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 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 for the purposes of the provisions set forth in articles 1 and 9 of Law 6 January 1931 n. 99, specifically referring to the herbal drug obtained from it.
The term drug refers to that part or organ of the plant, suitably dried and preserved, in which the content of active ingredients is highest.
Herbal drugs can be whole, fragmented or cut plants in an untreated state, usually dried and 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 the time of the Egyptians.
The Celts considered it protective in many ways, also useful against theft and spells 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 that had the advantage of being a good diuretic and, at the same time, an effective medicine for curing sciatica.
According to Pliny, bees that feed on juniper resin make a honey with a unique and particular flavour.
What does juniper look like?
Juniper is a genus of plants in the Cupressaceae family, it is a small bush that grows both in the plains and in the mountains. It has needle-like leaves, green flowers and the fruits are berries that when ripe take on a black-purple color. The flavor of juniper berries is initially sweet, then becomes bitter and pungent.
Principles of juniper
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 bad breath, 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 g of berries left to macerate in 1 L of 60% alcohol for 10 g.;
- 8 gr. of anise seeds
- 4 gr of cinnamon
- 800 g of simple sugar syrup.
In aromatherapy, juniper is considered a purifier of both the physical and energetic body. It cleanses 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 contains 43 botanicals, obviously one of these is juniper! You've already tried it, right? Buy it in our shop!
