from one to three years to mature, during
which they turn from green to purplish black.
When immature, their aroma is dominated by
the terpene pinene; when mature, they carry a
mix of pine, green-fresh, and citrus notes.
After two years in a spice bottle there is very
little aroma left: so juniper berries are best
when foraged and fresh. They are much used
in northern Europe and Scandinavia to flavor
meats, especially game, and cabbage dishes.
Juniper is the distinguishing flavor in gin, and
gave gin its name (originally Dutch genever).
Lemongrass Lemongrass is one of a small
group of aromatic species in the grass family.
Cymbopogon citratus accumulates the lemony
terpene citral (a mixture of two compounds,
neral and geranial), as well as flowery
geraniol and linalool, in special oil cells in the
middle of its leaves. It is a native of
seasonally dry southern Asia, including the
foothills of the Himalayas, and is important in