Juniper berries have long been considered a valuable addition to the kitchen. The cone fruits are used as a spice and have a use in natural medicine. But the harvest is not easy.
Ripe juniper berries are dark blue
Caution: Toxic risk of confusion
If you want to harvest juniper berries, you should only collect the fruits of the common juniper (Juniperus communis). The tree can easily be mistaken for the related sallow tree (Juniperus sabina), whose blue-black fruits are poisonous. To tell the species apart, you should look at the shoots and leaves. They are scaly in the case of the shrub-like sallow tree, while the taller-growing juniper develops pointed needle leaves.
harvest time
It can take up to three years for Juniperus communis to bear ripe fruit. When the fruit is ripe, the cones are blue-black in color and have a bluish frosting. Unripe fruits are green in color and difficult to pick. The ideal time for harvesting is in autumn. Check the bushes from the end of August. You can pick fruit until September.
pick fruit
The common juniper is covered with pointed needle leaves that quickly pierce the skin. To avoid injury, you should wear gloves.
Instructions for harvesting:
- put a large cloth under the plant
- shake the trunk with your hand
- alternatively, gently tap the trunk with a long stick
- pick up fallen fruit
drying crop
Place the juniper berries on a cloth in an airy and shady place. A dark and warm room that is regularly ventilated is ideal. The drying process can take up to three weeks depending on the climate. If fruit turns brown or has holes, discard it. They can be infested with pests or diseases and are inedible. Check the drying progress daily. Dried fruits have a shelf life of several years.
Store correctly
Pour the dried berries into a screw-top jar and place in a cool, dry place. It is important that the fruit does not contain any moisture. Even small amounts of water can cause mold to form. If you spread your harvest over several containers, the risk of all the fruit becoming moldy is reduced.