Épices Rœllinger French Spices | Raw Spices<Juniper berries

Juniper berries are gathered by hand from the thorny branches of the shrub at the end of September. The berries we source are sorted by hand then gently dried on site. It takes one to three years for the berries to age from their fresh, green state to a dried, purple-black spice. 

Juniper berries grow on the juniper plant (juniperus communis) an evergreen shrub in the conifer family. The female juniper flowers mature into cone fruits or berries, which need to be aged one to three years. Juniper plants are native to Arctic zones and grow wild in Europe, North America, and North Africa. 

Prehistoric humans discovered the multiple antiseptic properties of juniper berries. During Roman times, juniper was used to season meats and wines in place of pepper, which was exorbitantly priced at the time,. In German cuisine, juniper is used to season cured meats. The English have long turned to juniper to flavor their gin.