Re: harvesting juniper berries

[Guest guest]

>...is there a " best " time of year to harvest juniper berries? How would you

>determine whether or not they are ripe / mature? They seem to be that

>lovely slate-blue color most of the time, but I'll admit that I haven't been

>checking them closely. And since they are mostly used for flavoring, not

>eating per se, does the state of ripeness really matter?

>

>We have several large native juniper trees here (hopefully a variety that

>bears edible berries), and I suspect that the quail and other birds will

>share them with me.

>

>

Seems like they are best in the second or third year ...

http://www.wrc.net/wrcnet_content/herbalresources/herbwalk/herbwalk.aspx?hwid=30

Preparation & Uses: The so called juniper ``berries`` are in fact fleshy cones

which take two years to ripen. They are green in the first year and turn purple

during the second year. All of the species of juniper have edible berries ( J.

deppeana and J. horizontalis are the tastiest). The purple-bluish berries taste

the best in the fall of the second year or spring of the third year when they

are sweet. They can be used to flavour stew or meat. Some Indians dried them for

winter use, forming them into cakes. Their primary food use is as a seasoning.

Six juniper berries per pound of meat is excellent with moose, venison or rabbit

and poultry. The berries have also been roasted and ground, for use as a coffee

substitute.

The berries of juniper give gin its distinctive and well-known flavour. The

berries can also be made into a mush, then dried in cakes. Again, the purple

berries are the ones to eat. I ve often eaten them raw and enjoyed them. Some

people find them distasteful.

Juniper is well known by herbalists as an excellent diuretic, cleansing out the

kidney and bladder. It is especially effective for dissolving stones. The oil of

juniper can be irritating to the kidneys if they are weak. Juniper is usually

used with a demulcent such as marshmallow root to avoid this. The berries were

used by herbalists in the Middle Ages to help them avoid getting contagious

diseases. Herbalists who treated people during the Black Death usually kept a

few berries in their mouths to avoid infection. It works by forming an

antiseptic barrier. A strong tea of the berries was used as a disinfectant for

needles and bandages. The berries are known to stimulate the production of

hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Juniper berries have also been used to expel

intestinal gas.

Heidi Jean