THE JUNIPER
Let's discover together the botanicals present in the products of the Opificio Fred line.
Let's start with Juniper, a plant with antiseptic, balsamic, diuretic and antirheumatic properties, obviously present in GIN43, GIN7 Acacia Barrel and in GIN7 Camomilla.
It is the fragrant juniper berries that give the gin its characteristic flavour.
Juniper medicinal plant
Juniper is officially a medicinal plant, pursuant to and to the effects of the provisions set out in the art. 1 and 9 of the law of 6 January 1931 n. 99, specifically reference is made to the vegetable drug obtained from it.
The term drug means that part or organ of the plant, suitably dried and preserved, in which the content of active ingredients is higher.
Herbal drugs can be whole, fragmented or cut plants in an unprocessed state, usually dried and which are used as medicines.
Juniper in history
The juniper berry has a very ancient history and its balsamic and diuretic action has been known since
since Egyptian times.
The Celts considered it protective in many respects, also useful against theft and conjurations and it was a fundamental ingredient for love potions.
The Roman senator Cato wrote that medicinal wine was obtained from juniper berries: a distillate from ripe fruits which had the advantage of being a good diuretic and, at the same time, an effective medicine for healing sciatica.
According to Pliny, bees that feed on juniper resin make honey with a unique and particular flavour.
How is juniper made?
Juniper is a genus of plants in the Cupressaceae family, it is a bushy tree that grows both in the plains and in the mountains. It has needle-like leaves, green flowers and the fruits are berries which when ripe take on a purplish-black colour. The taste of juniper berries is initially sweet, then becomes bitter and acrid.
Juniper Principles
The juniper plant is rich in aromatic oils, in the berries, roots and leaves.
When ripe, the berries contain an essential oil that has diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties. To combat halitosis, an ancient recipe recommends chewing a juniper berry three times a day.
How to use juniper: infusions and liqueurs
Juniper can be used as a diuretic by making an infusion with 4-5g of berries in 300g of boiling water.
With juniper berries you can make a liqueur, excellent as a digestive. Here is Fred's special recipe for making Juniper Liqueur:
- 150 gr of berries put to macerate in 1 L of alcohol at 60% vol for 10 g.;
- 8 gr. of anise seeds
- 4 g of cinnamon
- 800 g of simple sugar syrup.
In aromatherapy juniper is considered a purifier of both the physical body and the energy body. It cleanses from accumulated negative vibrations, opens the mind by removing confusion and gives strength.
Beware of poisoning if you use juniper essential oil excessively and for long periods.
Gin43 Fred Jerbis contains 43 botanicals, obviously one of these is juniper! You've already tried it right? Buy it in our shop!
