Ingredient Name: Wolfberry (also known as goji berry, barbary matrimony vine, bocksdorn, Duke of Argyll’s tea tree, red medlar or matrimony vine)

Traditional Chinese Name: 杞子(gǒuqǐzi)
This ingredient is also a must have in your soup pantry.  It is used in soups, stews, porridge, sweet soups, teas and a variety of Chinese dishes.  My mom will use this for most chicken soup stocks, especially during my confinement and quite frankly, these little suckers don’t taste that bad either.

What is this?
  • Dried wolfberries are the bright orange-red seeds (or berries) spawned from the wolfberry plant
  • The berries are 1-2 cm in length
  • They are predominantly cultured in China and are usually exported to other countries for consumption
  • They store very well and can keep in a sealed container for 12-18 months
  • Ground and pill versions of wolfberries are available on the market as a health supplement – although precaution and medicial advice should be taken when taking these

How do I prepare it?

  • Wash in warm before usage to remove pesticides and residues

Where can I buy this?

  • In Asian supermarkets, you can purchase them prepackaged
  • You can also purchase them from Chinese speciality stores (pharmacies) in bulk by weight
  • It is difficult to find fresh wolfberries

What is the cost?

  • Wolfberries in bulk cost around $4.00 – $5.00 CAD / pound

Any benefits?

  • Wolfberries are high in antioxidants and contains a significant percentage of daily macronutrient needs such as: carbohydrates, protein, fat and dietary fiber
  • They also contain 6 essential vitamins, Beta-Carotene, Calcium, Potassium, Iron and Zinc
  • It is a natural supplement for improving eyesight and may assist with eye strain for frequent computer users
  • It is also known to be beneficial for the liver

Any precautions?

  • There are many positive medical claims that involve the consumption of wolfberries, however for many claims, very little (if any) have been verified by western medicine
  • The consumption of pills and ground wolfberries should be under the consultation of a physician
  • Excess consumption of wolfberry tea may lead to bleeding in the elderly

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