Juniper
A resinous blue-black cone berry that flavours gin, game and Scandinavian and German stews.
Also: juniper berry, ardhic, genévrier, wacholder
Juniper berries are the female seed cones of Juniperus communis, a hardy evergreen of the northern hemisphere. They take two to three years to ripen, turning from green to blue-black. The taste is piney, resinous and peppery with a hint of citrus. Juniper is the defining flavour of gin, from the Dutch word genever, and appears in German sauerkraut, Alsatian choucroute, Scandinavian game and cured meats, and in some traditional smoked dishes. Cooks crush a few berries to release the oil. Native peoples in North America and Europe have long used juniper smoke in rites and cooking.