Goji berries

Super healthy

They actually resemble raisins, but are longer. They are about two centimeters in size. The dried form is THE SUPERFOOD nowadays. Were they superfood back in the day? No, they were part of daily life in China. They grow wild in poor soil there. The bushes, Lycium barbarum/boxthorn, are lush and have long branches, like grapevines but with thorns. The goji berry is first a beautiful white flower shaped like a trumpet, then develops into a reddish-orange colored berry that can be harvested in the fall. This must be done manually because the berry is fragile. The berries are cleaned and dried in the sun, making them durable for at least a year and allowing them to be exported worldwide in large quantities. China is still the largest consumer and exporter of goji berries. The berry is said to be named after the character Gou, which means dog/wolf. It’s likely that goji berries are also called wolfberries in the Western world.

Goji berries are a family of nightshades that are in turn considered toxic. However, in the moderate amount we consume goji berries, that is no longer the case. After all, we also eat tomatoes and potatoes, both nightshade family members.

Funny is that when you literally translate the name lycium barbarum from Latin, it says “barbarian thorn”. Suitable for its growth in the Netherlands! Because this lush, prickly shrub loves to grow on sandy soil! Moreover, the shrub is a welcome guest on rooftops with the right poor soil composition!

Packed with antioxidants

The berries are packed with antioxidants and these do all sorts of good for you. In the long term, they could even help prevent heart and vascular diseases and cancer. And also, antioxidants would stimulate the immune system, lower cholesterol, and slow down the aging process.

Goji berries are superfoods. This so-called superfood is very popular nowadays. The group of superfoods are ordinary food products with high levels of certain nutrients, such as vitamins and other antioxidants, which would have all sorts of positive effects on health. Goji berries are in good company with, among others, hemp seeds, wheatgrass, pomegranate, green tea, broccoli, and red beets, and the delicious pure chocolate with a high cocoa content.

Antioxidants fight against bad radicals. As a result, they even help prevent heart and vascular diseases and, as is also claimed, cancer! That’s quite a bold statement! You wonder how many of those berries you need to eat to achieve that result. To be honest, we don’t know!

What we do know is that antioxidants, in other words vitamins, are good for stimulating the immune system and can lower cholesterol. We categorize the fact that they can slow down the aging process under the fact that healthy eating in general will certainly stimulate such a delay.

The amount of trace elements found in goji berries includes, among others, calcium, phosphorus, copper, selenium, iron, and zinc. Elements that are important for the good growth function of our body.

Goji berries are thus simply very healthy. However, people who take blood thinners, high blood pressure medication, and diabetes tablets should be cautious when consuming the berries. For them, it’s best to consult their doctor! Pregnant women are strongly advised against eating goji berries due to the risk of miscarriage. For them, the same advice applies: consult their doctor first.

Through your food

The berries have a robust bite when you eat them raw. This makes them ideal for snacking. Or to add them as an extra to your breakfast. If you prefer them juicier, fuller, and a bit softer, you can cook them briefly first. Afterwards, the berries taste delicious in a healthy salad or pasta. And besides being tasty to eat, you can even make tea from the dried berries!

Thanks to their deep red color, goji berries hold their own in culinary terms in all sorts of meals. Because how pleasant is a red accent in your breakfast cereals and in and on your desserts. And that’s not all.

The berries have a firm, slightly tough bite when eaten raw. This makes them ideal for snacking. If you prefer them juicier, fuller, and softer, you can cook them briefly first. Afterwards, the berries taste delicious in a healthy salad or pasta dish. Not only because of their flavor, but also because they’re visually appealing! And besides being tasty to eat, you can even make tea from the dried berries!
By adding a handful of berries to a cup of hot water, you can make a delicious tea. The taste of goji berry tea is reminiscent of cranberry and cherry. If you want the tea to be sweeter, use a drop of stevia, the most responsible sweetener. Let the berries steep for ten minutes and then remove them from the cup. But you can also drink the tea with the berries in it. And when you’ve finished the tea, you can simply snack on the berries! They’ve only become a bit softer from soaking. Goji berries are excellent for combining with other fresh or dried fruits or in combination with baked goods.

Have you tried our delicious and super healthy goji berry mix where goji berries take center stage? No, then it’s definitely a must-try! In the mix, you’ll find, alongside goji berries, apricot pieces, date pieces, mulberry berries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and fig pieces. Each of these delicacies makes for a truly mouthwatering mix. The mix isn’t just great for mixing with yogurt or curd, but it’s also a perfect combination with bread dough. This way, you can serve a delicious homemade bread or buns on the table.

Tea of goji berries

By adding a handful of berries to a cup of hot water, you make a delicious tea. The taste of goji berry tea is reminiscent of cranberry and cherry. Let the berries steep for ten minutes and then remove them from the cup. But you can also drink the tea with the berries in it. And when you’ve finished the tea, you can simply snack on the berries! They’ve only become a bit softer from soaking.

Assortment

Goji berries are available from us in quantities of 250 grams and up. More is certainly possible. It’s no exception for these berries to leave our premises in bulk packaging by the kilo.

The goji berry mix is also available from 250 grams at our place.

The pre-packaged organic goji berries, also from China, from Your Organic Nature, are available in 250-gram bags.