SC - Potatoes and other new worlde foods as subleties

[Decker, Terry D.]

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Lorix

> Umm, just out of interest, were juniper berries used in period & if
> so, what original sources call for their use.  I can get them at my
> local supermarket quite cheaply, but i haven't seen a period recipe
> that calls for their use.

I can't be sure how accurate my source is, but I have a book called "Spices
and Natural Flavourings - A complete guide to identification and uses of
common and exotic spices and natural flavourings" by Jennifer Mulherin.
This is some of what she has to say about juniper:

"Juniper berries have a sweet and aromatic woody taste and although juniper
is a common culinary spice in northern Europe, it is probably most familiar
as the distinctive flavouring in gin.  Known since biblical times, the
berries and leaves were used by the Greeks and Romans and in Europe until
the 16th century as a medicinal aid against plague and pestilence as well as
snake bites.  Juniper is an interesting flavouring which is rather neglected
in British cookery but used often in Sweden, Germany, Italy, and southern
Europe where, in fact, the most flavourful berries come from."  [Wince!  The
language pedant in me hated typing this sentence!]

I hope this helps a little

Gwynydd