The backstory: I have fresh venison in my house, which I'm not generally too fond of, and I've always heard how juniper berries make a fantastic flavor pairing with wild meat. For those who do not hunt, venison is
not elk and moose, which I
do like, venison is deer. And the difference is like night and day.
So I decided to forage for some berries. In the 30-odd years that I've been walking in the bush behind our house, I've noticed some huge and berry laden juniper bushes, and I've often wanted to try the berries in a recipe. So today was the day. A beautiful, crisp October day, no frost yet, and this is apparently the time to harvest.
I'd like to say that I put on my earthy sandals, wore my alpaca poncho that I picked up while trekking in Peru, and grabbed my Eco-friendly bag, which is woven with old, plastic grocery bags, and headed out into the wilderness to forage, like Euell Gibbons or Laura Engalls Wilder.
Yes, I'd like to say that, but the truth is somewhat different. I put on my Asics runners, outsourced by child labour in India no doubt, and grabbed a plastic ziplock freezer bag, not only "bad" plastic, but purchased at an American owned superstore. *sigh* We have to pick and choose our battles.
I did wear my poncho though.
Let me tell you what I've learned about juniper berries. The berries take three years to ripen. And since new berries grow each year, one bush will have berries of various stages of ripeness side by side. The newest ones are a bit larger, and quite pale. The ones we want to pick are deep purpleish blue, and are a bit smaller. And they are further in the depths of the bush. Which normally wouldn't matter, but another thing I learned about juniper....the needles are in fact needles. Meaning they are ever so sharp and ever so willing to draw blood. The plumpest berries are alway just behind a protective pale berry and/or a deadly needle.
The needles look soft and inviting, like the misnamed "needles" of a tamarack tree that are soft and feel like cat fur if you brush them. Which I do, I love the tamarack in my yard and yes, I talk to it and stroke the soft branches. But anyhow, I digress.
Now, I was quite surprised at how few purple berries there were. I know that no one else picks them, at least not like people go and pick blueberries, by the bucketful, plus I was off the beaten path, I wanted to make sure that I wasn't at a bush where dogs have peed all over. I know deer don't eat them, nor bears. But, when I reached back into the depths of a prickly bush and plucked one berry, 37 more fell to the ground and vanished into the leaves and twigs.
"Aha!" I said, "That's why there are so few, the ripe ones fall off at a gentle shake, at the kiss of the wind, at the breeze left by a passing bird or forest animal...I am so at one with nature." so I figured I could lay my poncho underneath and shake the tree like an olive harvester.
But apparently these bushes are alert to those tricks. You shake...and nothing happens. Well, all the dead needles fell out and embedded themselves into the fibers of my poncho so that now I need to spend the rest of the day picking sharp twigs and detritus out of my clothing, But if you gently reach in to get one berry, the others all communicate in silent berry language and release themselves to hide in the mulch. Who knew?
So I just carefully took my time, trying to not draw blood and was thankful that only 2 or 3 berries are needed for flavor in a marinade for poultry, and just a few more than that for the more powerful flavor of game. They can be used in place of rosemary, which was a helpful hint for me.
As I wandered deeper off the path, I found more bushes and as I came around one corner, I saw this giant:
The sun was hitting it, and I now know how Clark W Griswald felt when he saw the Christmas tree of his dreams.
I didn't pick too many off of this one, but it was loaded with many, many berries of all shades. It should be prime picking for years.
On my way home I gathered a few rosé hips as well, they're almost past their prime, but still not bad. One large rosé hip has an extreme amount of vitamin C....far more than an orange. Anywhere between 10 and 50 times more, one hip has more than your daily recommended allowance. I remove the seeds and slice the skin and toss it in a salad. Steven needs extra vitamin C because of his Crohns and arthritis, and the citric acid in oranges is hard on his gut, but who wants to buy supplements when you can get a better, healthier and 100% natural product for free?? The seeds are loaded with vitamin E, but they can irritate sensitive stomachs.
I also sometimes add one sliced rosé hip to each muffin, when I make muffins, that way a person gets their vitamin C while having a healthy treat.
But back to juniper:
Antimicrobial and Antifungal Properties
According to researchers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, juniper berry combats both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria are the cause for E. coli, pneumonia and gonorrhea, while gram-positive bacteria cause Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus is a common infection that people acquire in hospitals and it is often resistant to antibiotics; you have probably heard it called MRSA. Since pharmaceuticals are often ineffective at treating MRSA, juniper berry could be an effective alternative to help combat infections.
Role as an Antioxidant
According to a study published in the medical journal "Pharmacognosy Research," juniper berries contain high amounts of antioxidants. These compounds help to neutralize free radicals in the body, which eventually lead to the development of diseases like cancer, arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants also maintain healthy, youthful skin by fighting wrinkles and lines, aiding in cell regeneration and reducing inflammation.
Plus, much, much more. Google for yourself and then go out and pick a handful. Just don't ask me to tell you where my secret stash is.
I'd like say that I dried a few in the Kootenay sunlight on a hemp towel. And in fact, I can say that.
