Brinjevec is a candidate for the classification as a specialty on the list of world-famous drinks. "Kraški brinjevec" is made of juniper berries from the species "Juniperus communis". "Juniperus communis" is a barbed evergreen shrub or low tree that grows in a dry karst terrain. It is a monosex plant and only female plants grow berries. Juniper berries ripen only every two or even three years, so the same bush often carries mature and immature berries. Mature berries are fleshy, dark blue, refreshing fruity smell with a bit sweet and bitter taste. Berries are gathered in October and November with a
Vaccinium padifolium racemes. Corolla, 7–10 mm, globose to campanulate, the lobes very short. There are often five broad rose stripes on the white corolla. Berries up to 12 × 10 mm, ripening blue-black. The blue color of the berries is due to anthocyanins (Delphinidin 3-O-α-rhamnoside and anthocyanins triglycosides). Vaccinium padifolium Vaccinium padifolium (Madeira blueberry) is very common at elevations between . It grows mainly in crevices and exposed slopes and mountain plains. Fruits are used in preserves. It is endemic to the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo, Portugal. It is a semi-evergreen scrub to small tree 1.5–6 m tall. New branches