Goji Berry

Also known asGoji · Wolfberry · Chinese Wolfberry · Lycium barbarum · Lycium chinense · Kau Kee · Gau Gei · Gou Qi Zi · 枸杞 · 枸杞子

Name: Goji berry, also called wolfberry (Lycium barbarum and the closely related Lycium chinense). The names goji and wolfberry refer to the same fruit; in Chinese it is known as gouqizi. The berries are far more often sold dried than fresh, and the dried version has its own page.

Description

Goji is a deciduous shrub native to China, with the region of Ningxia in the north-west long regarded as its most famous growing area. It has been used in Chinese cooking and traditional Chinese medicine for a very long time, commonly said to be more than two thousand years, usually simmered into soups, congee, teas and tonic dishes.

Interest spread to the West from the early 2000s, when goji was marketed as a “superfruit.” The bright orange-red berries are now grown in several countries, though fresh goji remains a seasonal speciality that is hard to find outside growing regions.

Main nutrition value

Goji berries are notable for their carotenoid pigments (including zeaxanthin and beta-carotene), along with vitamin C, fibre and some minerals.

How best to be consumed

Fresh goji berries are juicy, slightly sweet and tangy, while the dried berries are chewy and more concentrated.

1. Eat fresh berries as a snack, or add them to salads and yoghurt when in season.
2. Simmer a handful into soups, congee or herbal chicken broth, as is traditional in Chinese cooking.
3. Steep dried berries in hot water for a mild, lightly sweet tea.
4. Soak dried berries briefly before adding to porridge, trail mix or baking.
5. Buy from a reputable source, since some imported dried goji have been found with pesticide residues.

Overconsumption could cause…

Goji berries are safe for most people in food-sized amounts, with a couple of specific cautions.

1. Interaction with the blood-thinning medicine warfarin, reported in case studies — anyone on warfarin should check with their doctor before eating goji regularly.
2. Allergic reactions in some people, particularly those sensitive to other members of the nightshade family.
3. Digestive upset or high sugar intake if large quantities of the dried, concentrated berries are eaten.
4. Possible effects on blood sugar and blood pressure medicines, so people on these should ask for advice before taking it regularly.

GroupsBerriesNightshade family (Solanaceae)High fibreLow fatRich in ironRich in vitamin CChinese

Made intoDried Goji Berries

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Wikipedia — Goji, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goji