Juniper

[Tengu]

Was on painswick beacon the other day, and saw a juniper bush.

I didnt know they grew on lime soil, I thought it was moorland they liked.

and what can you do with the berries?

 

[andy_e]

Juniper berries are great for flavouring game or smoked fish & meat. Or you could make your own Gin-like tipple

 

[rich59]

I met my first juniper last month in Norway. We found just a couple of berries. They seemed rather wooden, not really fruity at all. Is that how they are all year? They tasted about the same as the wood smoke from burning some dead juniper.

 

[Tor helge]

Berries is used for flavouring meat and fish as Andy_e mentioned (the blue berries are used not the green ones) and as flavouring in gin and genever.
The berries could be crushed and boiled, preferably with sugar added, to a pulp wich stiffens while cold. This is called "treak" and was used both as candy and medicin (I`ve never tried this myself).
The berries have also been crushed and used with oil or tar as a remedy against scabies.
The needles/berries was boiled in water and used as hairwash or washing containers used when brewing beer, washing the floors and so on.
And a juniper branch over your door will ward off evil spirits .

Tor Helge