Juniper berry
Juniper berry suppliers and sourcing guide
Juniper berries are the dried, ripe seed cones of common juniper (Juniperus communis), an evergreen shrub of the Northern Hemisphere; most supply is wild-collected in the Balkans, Italy and Central Europe. They are the defining botanical in gin and are sold whole or crushed for spirits and seasoning, as steam-distilled essential oil, and as extracts and powders for herbal products.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Juniperus communis · common juniper · juniper cone berry · Juniperi pseudo-fructus
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of juniper berry
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Whole dried berries
Graded by size, color and moisture for spirits and spice use.
Crushed or powdered berries
Milled berries for capsules, blends and seasonings.
Essential oil
Steam-distilled berry oil sold on its GC profile (alpha-pinene, myrcene, sabinene).
Liquid extract
Hydroalcoholic extract for beverages and herbal products.
Organic or certified wild
Berries from certified organic or certified wild collection, with the certificate tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity (macroscopy, GC)
- Visual checks and a volatile oil profile to confirm Juniperus communis and flag Juniperus oxycedrus or other juniper species.
- Volatile oil
- Volatile oil content by hydrodistillation, where the spec sets a minimum.
- Foreign matter and unripe berries
- Percentage of green berries, needles and twigs.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and any Prop 65 exposure targets.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli or coliforms, and Salmonella.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue pesticide screen, required for organic claims and commonly requested for conventional material.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep whole berries in sealed lined bags in a cool, dry, dark place; crushed berries and powder lose volatile oil quickly once milled, so mill close to use. Store essential oil in full, tightly closed containers away from light and heat. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification.
Lots and expiry dates
Volatile oil content and color vary with collection region and season, so check each lot's COA against your specification. Record the supplier lot and origin, and rotate stock first-expiry-first-out.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 182.20 lists juniper (berries) (Juniperus communis L.) among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives generally recognized as safe for their intended use.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Juniper natural health product monograph lists the dried fruit of Juniperus communis as the source material.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Juniperus communis (POL-NF-00438) lists the fleshy cone as not novel in food.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Juniper berry suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking juniper berry suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell juniper berry? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of juniper berry can brands buy?
Common forms include whole dried berries, crushed or powdered berries, essential oil, liquid extract and organic or certified wild. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for juniper berry include?
Expect identity (macroscopy, GC), volatile oil, foreign matter and unripe berries, heavy metals, microbiology and pesticide residues, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should juniper berry be stored?
Keep whole berries in sealed lined bags in a cool, dry, dark place; crushed berries and powder lose volatile oil quickly once milled, so mill close to use. Store essential oil in full, tightly closed containers away from light and heat. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification.
What is the regulatory status of juniper berry?
21 CFR 182.20 lists juniper (berries) (Juniperus communis L.) among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives generally recognized as safe for their intended use. Health Canada's Juniper natural health product monograph lists the dried fruit of Juniperus communis as the source material. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Juniperus communis (POL-NF-00438) lists the fleshy cone as not novel in food.
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