Juniper berries can flavor marinades.Posted by Skytte Koch on February 15th, 2021 persian cotton candy of junipers are native towards the United States, from tall trees to bush-like formations. All have lacy, leathery evergreen foliage. Junipers produce dusky blue berries that are actually cones containing seeds. Birds, foxes and also other wild animals eat juniper berries. Native Americans used juniper berries in certain dishes and medicines. The berries on your own juniper bush are edible, provided you find several cautions. Flavoring, Not Main Dish Juniper berries come with an astringent taste and odor. Juniper berries give gin its characteristic bitter taste, and add flavor to marinades and spice rubs. You shouldn't anticipate eating more than a number of berries at a time. Oil of juniper is a powerful diuretic, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Poison Control Center reports that eating than a few juniper berries could cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Berries as Flavoring To use juniper berries to flavor a meat marinade, pick 2 or 3 berries, wash them and drop them in the marinade liquid. Let the marinade sit within the refrigerator several hours or overnight to absorb the taste of the berries. Juniper berry-flavored marinades are popular for wild game, particularly deer. Full Article can also add a couple of juniper berries for the wood chips used to smoke meat to provide an aromatic tang to the smoky flavor. Yeast The whitish blush externally juniper berries is wild yeast. You can make a sourdough starter by mixing a cupful of flour, three or four berries and 1/4 cup water in a very glass jar. Let sit in a very warm place, loosely covered, before mixture begins to form. Remove the berries and use the starter when you would every other sourdough starter. Some people have brewed beer using the yeast from juniper berries. Whenever using wild yeasts, be suspicious of contamination by other bacteria. If you notice any discolored patches or growths in your starter, discard it immediately. visit this page Do not use juniper berries from bushes which have been sprayed with pesticides. Avoid berries from bushes that border roads, because these could have been exposed to car exhaust and other toxins. Always wash the berries before using. Never exceed the volume of berries needed inside your recipe. Keep the berries away from small kids and pets.Like it? Share it! More by this author |