Caution: Toxic risk of confusion
If you want to harvest juniper berries, you should only collect the fruits of the common juniper (Juniperus communis). The wood can easily be confused with the related Sade tree (Juniperus sabina), whose black-blue fruits are poisonous. To tell the species apart, consider the shoots and leaves. In the shrub-like Sade tree, they are scale-shaped, while the taller juniper develops pointed needle leaves.
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Harvest time
It can take up to three years for Juniperus communis to bear ripe fruit. When the fruit ripens, the cones are colored blue-black and have a bluish tinge. Unripe fruits are green in color and are difficult to pick. The ideal time to harvest is in autumn. Check the bushes from the end of August. You can pick fruit until September.
Picking fruits
The common juniper is littered with pointed needle leaves that quickly dig into the skin. Gloves should be worn to avoid injury.
Instructions for harvesting:
- place a large cloth under the plant
- shake the trunk with your hand
- alternatively, carefully tap the trunk with a long stick
- Pick up fallen fruits
Drying harvest
Place the juniper berries on a towel in an airy and shady place. A dark and warm room that is regularly ventilated is ideal. The drying process can take up to three weeks, depending on the climate. If fruits turn brown or holes are visible, they should be disposed of. They can be infested with pests or diseases and are inedible. Check the drying progress daily. Dried fruits can be kept for several years.
Store properly
Put the dried berries in a glass with a screw cap and put it in a cool, dry place. It is important that the fruits do not contain any moisture. Even small amounts of water can cause mold to form. If you distribute your harvest into several vessels, the risk of all the fruits going mold is reduced.
