Juniper Berry Juniper Berry (Albania)

Why Albania?

Juniper trees are native to much of the Northern Hemisphere, including Albania, where we source our Juniper Berry essential oil.

How does it work?

Juniper trees can live for as long as 200 years. They are shrub-like, evergreen conifers. Coniferous trees have needles instead of leaves. Because Junipers are evergreen, they keep these needles all year long. The trees produce male and female flowers, which grow on separate trees. The male flowers are small and yellow and grow near the tip of the twigs. The female flowers are green and, once pollinated, become the purple fruit—berries—of the Juniper.

The essential oil comes from the berry. The berries are ripe when they have turned blue in color. Then, they are harvested and steam distilled for the oil.

Sustaining Long-Term Partnerships

Our partner in Albania provides farmers with long-term contracts. This absorbs price fluctuations so that farmers can receive a consistently fair and transparent price. Additionally, it helps provide more stability and security for these farmers.

Healing Hands

The doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation recently supported our sourcing communities in Albania by renovating schools. Five schools in desperate need were chosen. Healing Hands helped with major repairs, especially to the bathrooms. This was especially important to Albania because the country is currently a candidate for European Union membership. In order the join the Union, however, they must meet required standards. One of these standards includes proper bathroom ratios for the students and the teachers in every school. Each school that the Healing Hands Foundation worked on is now up the standard. Additionally, Healing Hands supported in building one brand new school during the time of the repairs for the other schools.