THE wolfberry or goji (gou qi zi in Mandarin) berry is a small reddish-orange berry that grows in the wild in China and is commonly used in Chinese cooking.
Although they can be eaten raw, in these parts, the dried fruits are commonly found. It is fabled that 18th century Chinese farmers called it wolfberry when they saw wolves helping themselves to vines laden with the berries.
The berry has also earned the nickname red diamond and has been used in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years.
Seeing red: Wolfberries or goji berry has many health benefits. It is recognised for its health benefits especially as an antioxidant and in promoting longevity and in anti-aging.
Many Chinese cooks will advocate that these berries are good for the eyes, kidney and liver and they are also said to help improve the immune system.
The wolfberries are rich in nutrients including beta-carotene, calcium, polysaccharides, zeaxanthin, selenium, Vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals.
The berry has 19 amino acids, which help to build protein and protect muscles.
Some articles say that the berry has more Vitamin C than an orange!
Commercially produced wolfberries are grown in Ningxia in the North Central of China and Xinjiang in Western China.
Wolfberries are also grown in the Chinese regions of Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Hebei.
China is of course, the world’s largest producer and exporter of wolfberries.
The oblong red berries when ripe are harvested by shaking the berries from the vine.
The berries are then dried in the sun or by way of mechanical dehydration.
Wolfberries are celebrated each August in Ningxia with an annual festival coinciding with the berry harvest.
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