Juniper berries?

Hi, could someone please provide me with a decent substitute for juniper berries? I found an appealing lamb stew that calls for them, do not have any on hand and cannot think of what I would use instead as it calls for quite a large amount(8 berries) so seems to be fairly essential to the flavour.

The only thing I can think of is a good slug of gin, can'bring to mind any other herb or spice that would come close to juniper.

[KyleW]

Why not get some? www.penzeys.com has them along with almost every other kind of spice/seasoning known to man.

[foodnfoto]

Fresh rosemary might have a similar flavor profile. Try using one sprig for the juniper berries.

Thanks for the thought Britcook but in my frustration I've already finished that off!

Anyway, in my searching I found that myrtle berries could be substituted, if I had those which I don't, or I can resort to what the juniper berries had originally been a substitute for, bay leaves.

taken from some obscure site:
"6-12 juniper berries, mashed (or substitute a crushed bay leaf)"

[thebighat]

Britcook is absolutely right. I was marinating venison once and didn't have any juniper berries, so I used gin, which is after all flavored with ...juniper berries.

[cape chef]

thebighat and the britcook give you great advice...If you want the flavor of juniper but can't get the berries use a little good gin,juniper is the foundation of gin and used in the fermantation procces. That aroma you get from gin is the juniper
cc

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all your advice, especially since I'm such a newbie on your boards.