JUNIPER JOURNEYS

With winter closing in, we’re diving into the beauty of evergreens. Since Thanksgiving, we’ve breathed them in deeply as we walk past corridors of cut pine and spruce, lining the sidewalks of upper Broadway, waiting for new homes among apartments too small to do them justice.

 

But today we are following the journey of a juniper berry. Birds here in the Northeast are enjoying them now, in particular, because now, there is little else to tempt them.

Photo: Russ Kleinman. Juniperus Scopulorum, 2x macro of opened seed cone.

The berry isn’t really a berry, however. It is a small cone that has collapsed inward, onto itself, with tender tightly overlapping scales forming a juicy cushion around the seed.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Oregon State University. Western Juniper Seedling.

 

When the bird discards the seed, it drops into the soil, which germinates and begins to grow the next generation of juniper tree.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Temperature Climate Permaculture.

Juniper trees are found in most of the northern hemisphere. There are numerous varieties, most of which are slow growers.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Earthbound Chronicles. Juniper Berries.

Robyn, of Earthbound Chronicles, began to see her family’s Northern Arizona ranch differently once she took notice of its juniper trees. She describes her journey as she explores how the trees grow, how the berries roll, and how these tickle her tongue. She’s beginning to think of a new journey: starting the Northern Arizona Juniper Berry company.  

 

Photo: Courtesy of Awa Nursery. Juniperus Chinensis in bloom.

The lifecycle of the juniper is beautiful at every phase -- from seed to tree to berry to gin to cocktail to smile. When the tree is mature enough it will produce white flowers in spring, so tiny, you’d probably never notice them unless you were trying really hard.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Pollen info. Juniper pollen.

 

The flowers release their pollen and juniper love is in the air.

Photo: Russ Kleinman. Juniper cone forming.

The Juniper then begins to form tiny soft pink cones on its outermost tips.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Georgia Gardening. Juniper Cones in Spring.

The cones grow longer and thicker, overlapping and each other -- each new layer encasing the core.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Gin Foundry. Juniper fruits.

 

The juniper journey continues as the cones grow into plump “fruits,” with smooth outer scales resembling a true berry skin. They develop a deeper bluish purplish color as they ripen, and a resinous, piney flavor.

 

The berries take 2 -3 years to ripen, so each tree shows off various stages of ripeness at one time, ranging from pale bluish green to deep indigo, all with a dusky cast.

 

Photo: Courtesy of Soup Nancy. Ripe Juniper Berries.

 

Ripe juniper berries are mostly harvested to make gin, although they add a fascinating resiny edge to rich winter dishes of game, and hearty vegetables, like cabbage.

 

Afficianados love Tuscan juniper berries above all others. Bombay Sapphire sources its gin berries there, in the microclimate situated between the sea and the Apennines. Harvesters beat the tree branches so the ripe berries release and fall into their hand-made wooden and wire baskets.

Photo: Courtesy of Today Appalachian. Cardinal Gin Ingredients

Juniper has been used to flavor gin since it was developed in the 17th century in the Netherlands. Dried juniper berries are combined with an exotic blend of other botanicals to build the flavor profile.

 

The Mauney brother twins, from Kings Mountain, N.C. toss in organic spearmint, cardamom, coriander, orange peel, apricot kernels, cloves, and a few secret ingredients to make their award-winning small batch new style Cardinal Gin.

 

Photo: Chelsea Curtis. New York Distilling Company.

 

Craft gin distilleries have been gaining popularity. They are each regaled for their quirkiness.

 

Allen Katz, Bob Potter, and Tom Potter (also co-founder of Brooklyn Brewery)and their New York Distilling Company make two distinct types of gin. One is a 114-proof kick-ass, called Perry’s Tot Navy Strength Gin, and the other is a fruity floral noted sipper called Dorothy Parker American Gin, made with the addition of elderflowers. You can sip them both at Shanty, their onsite bar.

Photo: Kevin Demaria. Homemade gin.

You can make your own gin, using your own custom blend of of aromatics. We found an “insanely easy” recipe from chef and author, Ian Knauer. Sure it’s a bit a of “cheat,” but it’s really delicious, and who’s really going to challenge you anyway? If you can’t find juniper berries, you can buy them here.

 

IAN’S GIN RECIPE

 

1 (750ml) bottle of inexpensive vodka

2 Tbsp juniper berries

3/4 tsp coriander seed

1/4 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp fennel seed

3 green cardamom pods

2 black peppercorns

1 bay leaf, torn into pieces

1 (3-inch) sprig fresh rosemary

1 (2-inch-long) fresh lemon or lime peel

1 (1-inch) sprig fresh lavender

 

Infuse juniper in the vodka overnight. Add remaining spices and herbs in the morning and let infuse all day. When you get home from work, strain out the botanicals and start making your favorite gin cocktails.

 

You can use the leftover strained aromatics as a rad rub to flavor meats before roasting or grilling.

Photo: Courtesy of The Simplifiers. Blackberry Lemon Gin.

Martinis and gin & tonics are the most popular gin-based cocktails. For all the fuss, classic martinis or super simple. You just adjust the ratio of gin to vermouth to suit your taste.

Photo: Courtesy of Holeman and Finch. Gin.

We found a great gin and tonic recipe from The Simplifiers, made with fresh blackberries and lemon. Make sure you use a good quality tonic water. We like QTonic. Or you can make your own.

 

BLACKBERRY LEMON GIN & TONIC

 

Ingredients
 

• 12 blackberries

• 20 fresh mint leaves

• 2 lemons

• 1/4 cup simple syrup

• 12 ounces gin

• tonic water

• ice
   

Directions

 

Place 3 blackberries, 5 mint leaves, juice of 1/2 a lemon, and 1 tablespoon simple syrup in each glass and mix together. Add ice and 3 ounces of gin to each drink. Top off with tonic water and stir. Serves 4.

 

Photo: Courtesy of World Martini Cocktail Review.

There are a few other juniper-flavored drinks to check out if you can find them. Sahti, a Finnish rye-and-juniper beer, which is flavored with both juniper berries and branches. The brand Dry Soda produces a juniper-berry soda.

 

Enjoy your juniper journeys. Let us know what other beautiful things you find.

Photo: Courtesy of The Drunkablog.

Read more about Beautiful Journeys, as they relate to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact in our posts throughout this week, including Beautiful Journeys in Film Now, and Epic First Ever Journeys.

 

Get busy and enter the BN Competitions, Our theme this week is Journeys. Send in your images and ideas. Deadline is 12.08.13.

 

Photo: Courtesy of InterActiveMediaSW.

 

Also, check out our special competition: The Most Beautiful Sound in the World! We are thrilled about this effort, together with SoundCloud and The Sound Agency. And we can’t wait to hear what you’ve got!