Juniper Berries

Juniper berries (‘ar’ar) are the fruits of coniferous shrubs of the cypress family. The oily berries are the size of small peas with a pleasant bittersweet aroma. They were used in ancient Mesopotamian cooking, and in medieval times were incorporated into some meat stew dishes. Due to their astringency and hot and dry properties, they were useful medicinally. Medieval Arab physicians mention that they are more powerful than any other plant to stimulate menstrual flow, spoil live fetuses, and dislodge dead ones (Ibn Sina).