The Joys of Juniper: The rich history of this pine family member makes it a star herb of tooday

摘要

Mv first experience with juniper berries took place on a sweltering day in June. In need of a cold beverage, I went to my local health food store and picked up a bottle of mixed berry juice. One gulp and I was transported to a pine forest in the mountains. Imagine my surprise when I saw juniper berries as one of the main ingredients! My husband had always referred to the juniper bushes in our garden as "mice and spider condos," so I never imagined I would be drinking the fruit. A member of the pine family (Cupres-saceae or Cypress family), juniper (Juniperus communis) is found throughout Europe, Southwest Asia, and North America. While there's debate as to the number of species that exist, with records showing between 52 and 67, there's no doubt that the frosted, light blue berries have a number of uses—and a distinct flavor.