Juniper berries

Wacholderbeere; juniper berry

Flavor and role

Blue berries of the juniper tree, with a pine and citrus aroma. The main flavour of gin; crush them lightly before use.

Typical dishes and uses

Sauerkraut, game stews (venison, wild boar), German roast pork, cured salmon (gravlax).

Substitutes

4 juniper berries = 1 tbsp gin (the alcohol cooks off) or a small sprig of rosemary + ½ bay leaf.

Storage

In an airtight container at cool room temperature, away from direct sunlight and moisture. For best aroma, use ground spices within 6 months to 1 year and whole spices within 2-3 years.

Main countries

Germany · Italy · HR

Used in this book

Bigos (Polish Hunter's Stew)Old-Polish Three-Meat Bigos with Porcini

Updated 2026-10-10