By Laura Coffee, Marketing & Owner Services Manager
Juniper is a unique evergreen tree with many types and variations. They are often used in landscaping, since they maintain their color year-round and are easy to keep at a smaller size, even being used for bonsai. The berries, typically a dark blue in color, remind me more of peppercorns due to their texture and aromatic nature. They are typically used to flavor spirits and syrups, or sometimes sauces for meats. We will be doing a sweet syrup here, which can be used in many different beverages. If you are interested in future installments of this series you can sign up through the CRDL.
Orange Juniper Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 orange*
- 1 Tbsp juniper berries
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Cut three thin strips of peel from your orange, using a vegetable peeler or pairing knife. Get as little of the white pith on these strips as possible. Then juice the orange and set liquid aside. Lightly crush the juniper berries to open them up using a mortar and pestle or the back of a spoon. Combine the zest strips, water, sugar, and juniper berries in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally to make sure the sugar is fully dissolved. Simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove the lid and add orange juice** and vanilla. Simmer for 3 more minutes, uncovered, then remove from heat and strain. The resulting simple syrup can be used to create a tasty mocktail when combined with sparking water. It can also be used to sweeten coffee, or blended with gin for a flavorful cocktail. As a bonus, the strips of peel will be candied as well. You can slice them into thin strips and use as a garnish.
*For a more tart syrup, substitute a lemon here.
**Adding the orange juice will give the syrup a strong orange taste. If you want the juniper to stand out more, just omit the juice and use it for something else.
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