Juniper (Juniperus communis) is the defining botanical in gin. In fact, the word gin itself is short for the Dutch word jenever, meaning juniper. A member of the Cupressaceae family, juniper berries give the spirit its signature piney, citrusy taste; essentially, they make gin taste like gin.

Juniper berries are to gin what grapes are to wine; you can't make the spirit without them. And lucky for gin nerds like ourselves, species of juniper trees abound. Throughout the Northern Hemisphere, there are over 50 varieties of junipers. These coniferous trees typically grow to a height of six to 25 feet, and can be found in the mountains of Central America, tropical Africa, and eastern Tibet, among other places.

The highest known juniper forest in the world is in the northern Himalayas of Tibet at an altitude of 16,000 feet. Remarkably wind resistant, tall varieties of juniper are often planted in rows as windbreaks. These hardy trees, once harvested, serve a variety of functions; the red cedar juniper is used in drawers and closets, and was a common building material in the nineteenth century because of its ability to repel harmful insects like bed bugs. Other varieties, meanwhile, are favored for their berries, which are steam distilled into essential oils and used to fight arthritis, cramps, and other ailments.

The Greeks famously believed that juniper increased stamina, and therefore made a habit of eating the berries before races for a boost. Other remedial uses of the botanical include the use of juniper as a rudimentary form of birth control. The botanical was used to abort unwanted pregnancies in the Middle Ages, with the phrase "give birth under the savin tree" serving as a euphemism for juniper-induced miscarriage.

In the Bible, juniper was often used as a symbol of protection; in one biblical story, an infant Jesus was hidden from soldiers by a juniper tree. Other ancient tales say juniper wood, with its highly aromatic smoke, was used in the ritual purification of temples. To this day juniper smoke plays an important role in the occult, as it is thought to aid clairvoyance and stimulate contact with the Otherworld at the beginning of the Celtic year.

While it's now well-loved by witchy types, juniper smoke was once used in central Europe to cast out witchcraft. Similarly, the piney fumes were used during outbreaks of the plague, as it was believed that the disease could be dispelled by fumigating the house with juniper smoke while its occupants were inside.

For our intents and purposes though, we know and love the botanical berry for the essential role it plays in gin. In fact, the spirit is named for the plant, as the word "gin" is short for the Dutch word jenever, meaning juniper. If you've ever heard gin described as tasting like a "Christmas tree," that's all because of our friend juniper.