Juniper Berry

Grown on a juniper evergreen shrub, this berry is used as a seasoning for various food dishes. Juniper berries are bluish-black in color and have a very strong flavor, so a little goes a long way. Like peppercorns, they are usually crushed or ground in order to release their flavor before they are added to a dish. They are used to flavor meat dishes, soups, stews, sauces, pickled foods, stuffings, sausages, and are also used in the production of gin. Juniper berries are usually sold in a dried form or packed in jars and are available in most well stocked food markets.