Lycii Berry (Lycium chinense)
Information about Lycii Goji Berry
Also known as goji or wolf berry, Chinese matrimony vine, go qi zi and goji, Lycii is a member of the nightshade family, which includes tomato, eggplant, potato and tobacco.
In Asia, the bright red berries are used to flavor teas, wines and jelly, or they are used dried in soups, meat and vegetable stews and a rice porridge called conjee. As a tea, the whole berries are often co Wolfberry is one of the English common names given to fruit produced by two very closely related species: Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense. Quite notably, these two species also share a common plant name in Pinyin (the most common variant of standard Mandarin Chinese) and that word is gouqi or goji, the name by which the berry is commonly marketed in the United States.
In China, it is said that eating goji berry in the morning will ensure that there will be many smiles throughout the day. For this reason, goji is commonly referred to as happy berry in China. It is also thought that regular consumption of the fruit leads to long life. In part, this legend is associated with the exceptionally long life of Li Qing Yuen, a Chinese herbalist who reputedly lived to the ripe old age of 256.
However dubious this claim of longevity, there is little doubt about the nutritional value of goji berries. In terms of Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) value, the standard measure of antioxidant value of foods, goji provides many times more antioxidants than many other fruits and vegetables, including blueberries and spinach. In addition, goji berries pack 22 trace minerals and nearly a dozen essential fatty acids.
Goji berry is very nutrient rich with antioxidant properties essential fatty acids that are generally rare in fruits. Though having been considered in Asia to be one of the most nutrient-rich foods for quite some time, they have more recently been exalted in international commerce to the category of a superfood.
Like chia seed another superfood, goji berries may be soaked overnight and blended with additional water to avail a juice. As a food, dried goji berries are traditionally cooked with or before being added to rice and multi-ingredient dishes.mbined with other herbs, such as licorice root and astragalus root.
Origin: China
Constituents: Minerals, trace minerals, amino acids, vitamins, polysaccharides, monosaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, essential fatty acids,linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, phytosterols including beta-sitosterol, carotenoids including beta-carotene and zeaxanthin, lutein, lycopene and cryptoxanthin; and antioxidant phenols, glycoconjugates
Plant Part Used: Fruit
Storage Tips: Store in a sealed container in a cool, dark place.
Appearance and Aroma: Red in color with a resemblance to raisins.
Culinary Uses: Add to puddings and rice while cooking, baked goods and tea blends. May also be soaked in wine or brandy before use to reconstitute.
Flavor Profile: Slightly sour but sweet. Blends well with herbal teas, fruit peels and sweet and savory cooked foods.
Safety: Before making any changes to your diet you should always consult with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or have existing conditions.
This information is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by Health Canada or the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.