Jun 222011
 

[photo-goji berry or wolfberry]

Herb Name: Goji, or Wolfberry

Herb Name in Chinese: 枸杞 (gǒu qǐ)

Description:

  • Goji (wolfberry) is the bright orange-red fruit of a perennial plant native to Asia, and has been cultivated along the fertile Yellow River in China for over 600 years.
  • Wolfberries are oblong-shaped and small in size, about half of an inch long.
  • Each berry can contain 10 – 60 small edible yellow seeds inside.
  • Goji berries have a light sweet-sour taste and are often dried after harvest and sold in this dehydrated form.

Goji Berry Uses and Health Benefits:

  • In Chinese medicine, goji berry is known to have neutral properties nourishing the kidney, and believed to have the ability to reduce high blood sugar and improve eyesight.  The fruit is often used in Chinese medicine for those with diabetes and vision-related diseases such as glaucoma.
  • Wolfberries contain many nutrients and phytochemicals, including 18 amino acids, 6 essential vitamins, carotenoids, calcium, iron, and potassium.
  • See a list of soup recipes using Goji or wolfberry.

Preparation:

  • Rinse and soak the dried wolfberries in cool water for about 10 minutes.
  • Wolfberries do not require extended cook time.  They can be added to a soup during the last 15 – 20 minutes of cooking.

Where to Buy:

  • Dried goji berries can be purchased in Asian supermarkets, or online at Amazon.

How do you use your Wolfberries? Leave a comment below to share your ideas.

Link to this page from your site or recipe!
Just copy and paste the code below to your page:
<a href=”http://www.chinesesouppot.com/?p=863″>Learn more about Goji here.</a>

Resources and further reading: Wikipedia
 

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  2 Responses to “Herb: Goji or Wolfberry”

  1. I’ve read so many good things about the health benefits of goji berries! I don’t know how they’re used traditionally, so I’d used them in a kind of “fusion” sense. One dish that comes to my mind is a traditional German winter dish, called “Apfelrotkohl” (should post that some day ;)). Basically, it’s shredded red cabbage that is stewed with a chopped apple and sometimes onion, and flavored with bay leaves, cloves, and a bit of vinegar (to keep the cabbage colorful). I’ve thought about making that and adding dried cranberries for more fanciness, but I believe goji berries would be awesome as well.

  2. I cannot use the goji fruit it has seeds and i have diverticulitis. No seeds allowed in my diet. I will use honey dates instead.

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