Ingredient

Juniper berries

The juniper, as its name indicates in the Celtic language - that is to say acrid, is a very widespread ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine: the famous berries of this plant are used, which are harvested every two years, due to the long maturation period necessary for them to take on the classic purple color. Already in Roman times, juniper was very widespread, but it was in medieval times that it became a very important ingredient for mainly flavoring meat. Juniper is a very widespread plant throughout the national territory, and grows indifferently both on the coasts and in the high mountains.

Use in cooking

It is not difficult to find dishes in which juniper berries play a role of primary importance: in fact, they contribute to making meat-based dishes tasty, as well as cured meats and even different types of oils.

Preservation

Juniper berries must be stored in a tightly closed container, protected from light, heat and humidity.

Curiosity

The juniper spice owes its name essentially to the Celtic language: the term has the meaning of "acre", and is representative of the flavor of the latter.