Are All Juniper Berries Edible - Is It Safe To Eat Juniper Berries

Of the roughly 40 species of juniper, a small number are poisonous and a majority have bitter fruits. Only a few yield edible berries (actually modified cones) and only one is routinely used for flavoring. The flavoring juniper, best known for its contribution to gin, is common juniper, Juniperus communis.

How can you tell if a juniper berry is edible?

Look for a plant with berries that appear blue on it in this open sunny area. The berries are a little smaller than regular blueberries and grown at the ends of the branches. You will smell a pine aroma that is very strong as you come closer to the juniper plant. They hang in clusters.

Which Juniper is poisonous?

Savin Juniper is known to be toxic and potentially deadly poisonous if taken in large enough quantities.

Can you ingest juniper berries?

All juniper berries contain the powerful oil Thujone. This oil can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and kidney problems when ingested in large quantities. ... The common juniper, Juniperus communis, is the variety most often used to make gin, medicines and food dishes, as it is considered safe for human consumption.

What can replace juniper berries in a recipe?

Rosemary is the closest herbal flavor to juniper berries and is best used as a substitute in meat and venison dishes. One fresh sprig of rosemary may be used as a substitute for every 4 berries.

How many juniper berries can you eat?

Most juniper berry supplement labels recommend taking 1–6 grams per day, divided into multiple doses. These supplements are not appropriate for children and should be avoided by women who are pregnant, as juniper berries are considered uterine stimulants and may cause miscarriage in high doses (23).

What is juniper berry good for?

Juniper is used for digestion problems including upset stomach, intestinal gas (flatulence), heartburn, bloating, and loss of appetite, as well as gastrointestinal (GI) infections and intestinal worms. It is also used for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney and bladder stones.

Do junipers attract bugs?

Don't avoid planting juniper (Juniperus spp.) because you noticed bees or flies on a neighbor's tree or shrub. The annoying insects aren't attracted to the evergreen itself, but to the sticky sweet honeydew excreted by even smaller pests that feed commonly on junipers.

Are junipers poisonous to dogs?

The University of California - Davis list Juniperus (Junipers) in their Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants list as having a minor toxicity (class 2) for pets and children. This rating means ingestion of these plants may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea.

Are junipers poisonous?

A. Possibly never. Of the roughly 40 species of juniper, a small number are poisonous and a majority have bitter fruits. ... The flavoring juniper, best known for its contribution to gin, is common juniper, Juniperus communis.

Can juniper berries kill you?

Eating the leaves will make you mighty sick and eating the root could kill you. Juniper berries – Also known as a cedar tree, junipers are evergreens that produce a blue or purple berry. ... Eating any part of the plant will cause severe stomach pain and vomiting.

Is Juniper berries same as allspice?

Also asked, is allspice the same as juniper berries? Allspice does not have the strong pine characteristic that you would get from the juniper berries. Juniper berries have a much less complex flavor, which makes them less versatile. Unlike allspice berries, they are not usually used in desserts.

What animals eat juniper berries?

Rabbits, coyotes, and many small mammals also eat the juniper berries, spread- ing the seed across the landscape.

What is the flavor of juniper berries?

If you've ever tried gin you'll have a fair idea of what juniper berries taste like, although the ones used for cooking are riper. They have a slightly piney flavor with a touch of both fruitiness and pepperiness.

Where do I buy juniper berries?

Check the spice section. Nicer grocery stores will sometimes sell juniper berries with the other less common overpriced spices. Spice Island Morton & Bassett is the brand name I usually see. Whole Foods and Fresh Market will often have them - check the bulk spice section as well as the regular spices.

Where are juniper berries found?

Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, between 50 and 67 species of junipers are widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa, from Ziarat, Pakistan, east to eastern Tibet in the Old World, and in the mountains of Central America.

Are juniper berries good for kidneys?

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) juniper berries have been used for centuries as a stimulant for the kidneys and bladder to flush out impurities and toxins. It has also been used as a general antibiotic herb to heal infections, as well as a digestive tonic for the stomach, intestines, and spleen.

What does Juniper mean in the Bible?

The juniper tree is believed to possess the ability to cleanse and make us pure and true to ourselves. ... Juniper was a symbol of the Canaanites' fertility goddess Ashera or Astarte in Syria. In the Bible's Old Testament, a juniper with an angelic presence sheltered the prophet Elijah from Queen Jezebel's pursuit.

Is juniper berry good for skin?

Balance. Juniper Berry Oil helps to regulate hormones and improve skin conditions caused by hormonal imbalances, leaving the skin healthy and more even, as well as less reactive to external aggressors. To further calm your skin, look to other Essential Oils such as Chamomile Oil and Rose Oil.

Is Juniper good for arthritis?

Juniper is an old world remedy for rheumatism and arthritis. It contains essential oils, terpenes and vitamin C. The medicinal benefits of juniper berries have been described and proven.

What is the difference between Juniper and juniper berry essential oil?

Juniper berry essential oil, like juniper leaf essential oil, is derived from the juniper plant. However, juniper berry is derived from the berries of the plant, while juniper leaf is derived from the needles and branches. Although they share similar healing properties, they differ in composition.

Is Juniper the same as cedar?

Cedars and junipers are both evergreen coniferous trees belonging to the plant order Pinales. ... Junipers are trees belonging to the genus Juniperus. Some of these trees, despite being junipers, are commonly referred to as cedars, such as Juniperus bermudiana, which is commonly known as the Bermuda cedar.