Dried Goji Berries

Also known asDried Goji · Dried Wolfberry · Dried Wolfberries · Dried Goji Berry · 枸杞干

Name: Dried goji berries, also called dried wolfberries (Lycium barbarum, and Lycium chinense), the usual way the berry is sold outside its growing regions. They are small, chewy, red-orange and slightly sweet-tart. The fresh berry has its own page under Berries.

Description

Goji berries have been grown and dried in China for a very long time, particularly in the north-western region of Ningxia, and are a long-standing ingredient in Chinese food and traditional medicine. Drying makes it practical to store and transport the delicate fruit, and virtually all goji sold in Western shops is dried.

Goji's popularity as a Western “superfood” took off in the early 2000s. The dried berries are now sold whole, in powders and in juice drinks, and are sold alongside raisins and cranberries in the dried-fruit aisle.

Main nutrition value

Dried goji berries concentrate the fruit's carotenoid pigments, including zeaxanthin and beta-carotene, and provide fibre, some protein and iron for a dried fruit.

How best to be consumed

Goji berries can be eaten as they are, or rehydrated in hot liquids.

1. Eat a small handful as a chewy snack, or add to trail mix.
2. Soak in hot water for a few minutes, then add to porridge, salads or yoghurt.
3. Simmer in soups, congee and herbal broths, as is traditional in Chinese cooking.
4. Brew a handful in hot water, often with chrysanthemum or dates, for a gentle tea.
5. Buy from a reputable source, and check the label for added sugar or sulphites.

Overconsumption could cause…

Drying removes water but leaves the sugar, so dried fruit is far more concentrated in sugar and energy than the fresh fruit.

1. Interaction with the blood-thinning medicine warfarin, reported in case studies, so people on warfarin should ask their doctor first.
2. Allergic reactions in some people, particularly those sensitive to other nightshade plants.
3. High sugar and calorie intake if large amounts are eaten as a snack.
4. Pesticide residues in poorly sourced products, which is why reputable or organic sources are advised.

GroupsDried FruitsNightshade family (Solanaceae)High fibreLow fatRich in ironRich in vitamin CChineseDried

Made fromGoji Berry

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Wikipedia — Goji, used for origin and general background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goji Wikipedia — Dried fruit, used for general background on drying and storing fruit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dried_fruit