Goji Berry

Common to Asia, this fruit is a member of the lycium family of berries and is referred to as a Goji berry when harvested in Mongolia or Tibet. Small in size, round to oval-shaped and dark red in color, the Goji berry is much like other lycium berries that are grown throughout Asia. The Chinese Wolfberry is the closest relative, looking very similar in appearance but different in nutrient value. The Goji Berry is high in immune-boosting compounds known as glycoconjugates as well as ammino acids and antioxidants and other nutrients. It is a plant that is becoming increasingly popular as an anti-aging and disease-fighting herb. Grown on vines in Asian valleys, the pure Goji Berry provides flavors that make it taste somewhat like a combination of a cranberry, a raspberry and a cherry or a plum. It is becoming a popular ingredient in juices, teas, and health food supplements, mixed in as a dried fruit or a powdered fruit extract. When fresh, it is served as a snack or added to fruit salads or lettuce salads, cereal toppings, and a variety of other foods.