Juniper

Junipers belong to the cypress family called Cupressaceae of Juniperus genus. Junipers are coniferous plants and come in varied sizes and shapes. They are mostly found in the northern hemisphere and spread across the Arctic, the Central American region and tropical Africa. There are accounts of prehistoric people living in juniper forests which provided them with fuel, food and wood. Some juniper species especially those from eastern Asia are used for horiculture and bonsai. It represents longevity, fertility and athleticism.

The plants are evergreen and the trees are 20-40m tall and at times they also develop as low-spreading shrubs with long branches. The plants are evergreen witth needle shaped leaves. Juniper are either monoecious or dioecious. The female seed cones are characterised by a fleshy fruit which have scles joined together to form a berry like substance. These berries have a rich aroma and are often blue in colour. Berries are usually used as spices. The berry seeds take about 6-18 months to mature after pollination.

The berries of Juniper are used a sa spice for various culinary dishes. It is popularly used as a flavoring agent in gin. In fact gin is a shorter form of genever in Dutch. It is also used for flavor in Jenever liquor and beers of sahti style. You can also find Juniper berry sauce being used in dishes of quail, veal, rabbit, pheasant and venison meat.

Some junipers are prone to the rust disease called which can pose a serious threat for people growing apple trees. Juniper berries are not only used as a spice but have long been used for medicinal properties as well. The berries function as an urinary tract disinfectant. It is popularly used by many as an herbal remedy. There are reports of Western tribes using juniperus communis and Berberis root as herbal tea for treating diabetes. This treatment has also been clinically validated in patients who are insulin dependent. This combination when adminstered have triggered insulin production and helped in stabilizing blood sugar levels in people. Indigenous people of the USA have used juniper berries as a contraceptive for females.