Goji berries are a symbol of old fashion health food

For many young people in China, bright red dried goji berries are a symbol of old fashion health food, often spotted in fathers' teapots or picked out of insipid chicken soup made by mothers.

However, the native Chinese berries are rising as the next star Chinese product in overseas markets due to Lao Gan Ma chili sauce and Mayinglong ointment. Recommended by big names including Madonna and Miranda Kerr, the goji berry is growing in popularity among edgy diners from western countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

The bean-shaped berry mainly grows in northwestern China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat eye, liver and kidney ailments. It is also often added to soups, stews, and teas in daily life.

The goji berry, also known as wolfberry, contains a mix of vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, amino acids and protein and is alleged by some studies to boost the immune system and brain activity, protect against heart disease and cancer, and improve life expectancy.

Therefore, the berry, tasting like a cross between a cranberry and a cherry, has been marketed in the West as a "superfood", a term referring to foods with an incredible array of health benefits, such as acai berries, noni juice and sea buckthorn extract.

Many recipes featuring goji berries can be found on the internet ranging from eating straight from the packet to making breakfast bars or powder for baking.

chinadaily.com.cn