if you swill them in grain alcohol .. you ought to have gin

hit the link ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

The Plants For A Future database says they are (but it also says "All parts of the plant might be toxic"). Other sources report the fleshy cones (berries) are mildly toxic. The Plants For A Future database also reports, "The berries are anthelmintic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue and mildly antiseptic. They have been chewed as a treatment for mouth ulcers or made into a tea to treat colds, rheumatism, worms etc."

Here is a link that might be useful: Plants For A Future - Juniperus virginiana

Eastern red cedar berries edible? Well, kinda, like if you're about to die of starvation. NC State lists the berries and leaves as mildly toxic, but lists a tea recipe for the berry-less branches. Go figure. Juniperus communis (not virginiana) is where gin comes from and is considered an edible juniper.

tj

P.S. Before Resin comes in and slaps us all, they are actually cones, not berries.

Here is a link that might be useful: NC State

"Juniper oil is distilled from the wood, twigs and leaves. The cones are used to flavor gin and as a kidney medicine."

All signs point to yes

Here is a link that might be useful: Cedar Berries

I've used them MANY times as a spice, sauerbraten and that sort of thing. I don't see paying the exhorbidant price they want for a few sad, dried up things at a specialty grocery store when I can pick them for free in my back yard. I'm not dead yet. I'm sure that they probably are mildly toxic in quantity, but to flavor a roast, I usually use something like 8 or 10 of them.