Edible Parts: Fruit  Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses: Coffee  Condiment  Tea

Only the mature fleshy seed cones are edible, and then only in small quantities. The young green cones are extremely resinous and unsuitable for eating. Leaves, bark, wood and roots are not edible [2-3]. Mature cones have a pleasant sweetness beneath their resinous flavor. They have traditionally been used to flavor meat, sauerkraut, game, marinades, fermented beverages and spirits. They can also be dried and used as a spice. The first impression is sweet and fruity, but this is quickly overwhelmed by intensely acrid, throat-burning resins. Cooking softens the fruits but has little effect on the resin content [2-3]. Because the cones contain relatively large seeds surrounded by only a modest quantity of edible flesh, they are not especially efficient as a source of calories. The fruits are therefore best viewed as an aromatic flavoring rather than a substantial wild food. Edibility Rating: 2/5. Common juniper receives an overall edibility rating of 2 out of 5. Although the fruits are edible and widely used in traditional cookery, their high resin content severely limits how much can be consumed safely or pleasantly. Their value lies in seasoning foods rather than providing nutrition. Taste, Processing & Culinary Use: Fully mature second-year fruits are distinctly sweet when first tasted. This sweetness is quickly followed by strong resinous, pine-like flavours and a noticeable burning sensation in the throat. The fruits have a mealy texture with three hard seeds occupying much of the interior. The blue outer surface covers pale green flesh rather than juicy pulp. Fresh fruits may be chewed in very small amounts, but they are much better suited to drying and using as a spice. Drying concentrates both the sweetness and the aromatic oils. Crushed dried fruits are widely used to season venison, pork, duck, cabbage Our field observations suggest that reducing the fruits to a syrup produces an intensely sweet flavoring, although the acrid resins remain prominent. The fruits may also be steeped to make tea or infusions, but prolonged boiling extracts additional resins and bitterness. Unlike sweeter wild fruits, common juniper should always be used sparingly [2-3]. Seasonality (Phenology): Common juniper is evergreen and remains recognizable year-round. Flowering usually occurs during spring. The female cones require two years to mature. During the first season they remain green, firm and highly resinous. During the second autumn they become blue-black with a waxy bloom and develop their characteristic sweetness. Unlike many fruits, mature cones often remain attached for another year or longer, allowing harvesting over an extended period. This persistence makes common juniper one of the few reliable wild flavoring plants available throughout much of the winter. Safety & Cautions: Common juniper should be consumed only in small amounts. The fruits contain essential oils and resinous compounds that may irritate the kidneys if consumed frequently or in large quantities. Excessive consumption has been associated with kidney irritation, and medicinal doses should not be used during pregnancy. Individuals with kidney disease should avoid consuming the fruits except under professional supervision. Young green fruits are substantially more resinous than mature ones and should not be eaten. Although culinary use as a seasoning is considered safe, regular consumption of large quantities is not recommended. The needle-like foliage is not edible and should not be consumed. Harvest & Processing: Harvest only fully mature blue-black fruits. Leave green first-year cones to mature for another season. Because mature and immature fruits commonly occur together on the same shrub, careful selection is necessary. Wear gloves when gathering, as the stiff, needle-like leaves can be sharp. You can use fresh fruits immediately or dry them in a warm, well-ventilated location until firm. Once dry, they store well in airtight containers for many months. The fruits may be lightly crushed before cooking to release their aromatic oils. Only a few fruits are normally required to flavor an entire dish [2-3]. Traditional Indigenous Uses: Native peoples of North America occasionally used the fruits as food or flavoring, although the species was generally less important than sweeter southwestern junipers. Throughout Europe, juniper has a much longer documented history as both a medicinal and culinary plant. The dried fruits became an important seasoning for preserved meats because their aromatic oils helped mask strong flavors while contributing antimicrobial properties. Juniper also became a defining flavoring ingredient in gin and numerous traditional herbal preparations. Despite these culinary uses, the fruits have almost never been regarded as a staple food. Nutritional Value: Common juniper fruits contain natural sugars together with volatile oils, terpenes and aromatic resins. Although they provide some carbohydrate, the edible portion surrounding the seeds is relatively small. They are consumed primarily for flavor rather than nutritional value. Their importance lies in aromatic compounds rather than calories. Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 5, 9, 15]. It is usually harvested in the autumn when fully ripe and then dried for later use[12]. A soft, mealy, sweet, resinous flesh[82]. The fruit is often used as a flavouring in sauerkraut, stuffings, vegetable pates etc, and is an essential ingredient of gin[183]. The aromatic fruit is used as a pepper substitute according to one report[183]. An essential oil is sometimes distilled from the fruit to be used as a flavouring[183]. Average yields are around 1%[7]. The cones are about 4 - 8mm in diameter and take 2 - 3 years to mature[82, 200]. Some caution is advised when using the fruit, see the notes above on toxicity. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[177]. A tea is made by boiling the leaves and stems[161]. A tea made from the berries has a spicy gin-like flavour[183].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiseptic  Aromatherapy  Aromatic  Carminative  Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Rubefacient  Stomachic  
Tonic  Urinary

Juniper fruits are commonly used in herbal medicine, as a household remedy, and also in some commercial preparations. They are especially useful in the treatment of digestive disorders plus kidney and bladder problems[4]. The fully ripe fruits are strongly antiseptic, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, strongly diuretic, rubefacient, stomachic and tonic[4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 165, 240, 254]. They are used in the treatment of cystitis, digestive problems, chronic arthritis, gout and rheumatic conditions[254]. They can be eaten raw or used in a tea[222], but some caution is advised since large doses can irritate the urinary passage[4]. Externally, it is applied as a diluted essential oil, having a slightly warming effect upon the skin and is thought to promote the removal of waste products from underlying tissues[254]. It is, therefore, helpful when applied to arthritic joints etc[254]. The fruits should not be used internally by pregnant women since this can cause an abortion[9]. The fruits also increase menstrual bleeding so should not be used by women with heavy periods[254]. When made into an ointment, they are applied to exposed wounds and prevent irritation by flies[4]. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Toxin elimination'[210].

Fibre  Fuel  Hair  Incense  Repellent  Resin  Strewing  Tinder

Landscape Uses: Specimen. Agroforestry uses: Junipers can be used as windbreaks or hedges and are often employed in erosion control due to their extensive root systems. They also provide habitat and shelter for wildlife. A decoction of the branches is used as an anti-dandruff shampoo[172]. The essential oil distilled from the fruits is used in perfumes with spicy fragrances[238]. In hot countries the tree yields the resin 'Sandarac' from incisions in the trunk[4, 74]. This is used in the production of a white varnish[74]. The stems were at one time used as a strewing herb to sweeten the smell of rooms[14, 244]. The whole plant can be burnt as an incense and fumigant[66, 102, 146]. It was used during epidemics in the belief that it would purify the air and cleanse it of infection[244]. Fresh or dried juniper branches also make a good insect repellent[102, 172]. Many forms of this species are good ground cover plants for sunny situations[208]. Forms to try include 'Depressa Aurea', 'Dumosa', 'Effusa', and 'Repanda'[197]. 'Prostrata' can also be used[188]. The bark is used as cordage[61] and as a tinder[172]. Wood - strong, hard, fragrant, very durable in contact with the soil and very close-grained, but usually too small to be of much use[82, 229, 244, 245]. It makes an excellent fuel[66]. Wildlife & Ecology: The fruits are eaten by numerous birds, including thrushes, waxwings, and grouse, together with mammals such as foxes and small rodents. Birds are the principal agents of seed dispersal. Dense evergreen foliage provides valuable nesting habitat and winter shelter for birds and small mammals. The shrub is also an important component of alpine and boreal ecosystems where relatively few woody plants occur. Pollinators: Like all junipers, common juniper is wind-pollinated. Male shrubs release large quantities of pollen during spring. Female shrubs receive airborne pollen and subsequently produce the fleshy seed cones. Because male and female cones are usually borne on separate plants, fruit production requires nearby pollen-producing shrubs. The species offers little nectar for insect pollinators. 1. Nectary - Flowers rich in nectar and pollen: No – Juniper species produce small, inconspicuous flowers that do not produce significant nectar. However, they do release pollen, which can be a food source for some insects, though not in large quantities. 2. Wildlife - Food (Fruit, Seeds, Leaf litter, Shelter, Nesting, Roosting): Yes – Juniper berries (technically cones) are a food source for many birds and mammals. The dense foliage provides good shelter, and some birds may nest or roost in the branches. Juniper is also used for cover by small wildlife. 3. Invertebrate Shelter (Overwintering sites, Leaf litter, Groundcover): Yes – Juniper’s rough bark and dense foliage can provide overwintering sites for various invertebrates. The leaf litter from junipers can also serve as habitat for insects and other small creatures. 4. Pest Confuser (Smell): Yes – The strong aroma of juniper, especially from its berries and leaves, can help deter certain pests. The volatile oils in juniper have natural insect-repellent properties.

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground cover  Scented Plants