All About Goji
A goji berry is actually one of two very closely related berries, Lycium barbarum and L. Chinense, which are two of many small, red berries in their genus that are members of the Solinaceae family. This means that goji, although rare, is closely related to potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, tobacco and chili peppers, too. Other names for goji include; murali, Chinese wolf berry, bocksdorns, barbary matrimony vine, red medlar, matrimony vine, Duke of Argyll's tea tree, and of course, simply wolfberry. The berries are native throughout all of China, but likely came from the valleys between the Himalayan mountains in pre-history.
The small, lavender goji flower will appear as one to three flowers on each stem. It has long stamen in the center, and the oblong leaves are nothing out of the ordinary to look at, however, the berry is a bright red square looking oblong shape. The main area that you find these plants is in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Ningxia province in the west of china and the north central areas of China, respectively.
Our western-world health food industries advertises two main types of Goji berry. Tibetan goji and Himalayan goji, both types being very common in our health-food stores and of course online. However this berry does not grow in either one of these regions! The Himalayan mountains are simply too cold to grow Goji trees in today. Once upon a time they were said to be the birthplace of all goji, but today the frost will simply wipe these fragile trees out.
In the early 1700's, the goji plant was brought to the United Kingdom. That is where it got the nickname of Duke of Argyll's tea tree. It has been growing wild in the the UK for over three hundred years now, and has been naturalized as an ornamental and edible plant for that area. Near Ipswich, and in surrounding areas of Suffolk Sandlings, Hadley, Walberswick and Bawdsey, this plant can be found growing wildly in hedge rows, although its nutrients are suspected to be reduced from those of its Chinese cousins.
Wolfberries, in their fresh form, cannot make the trip safely across the oceans to other countries. Therefore they cannot be exported fresh, but rather are shipped dried like raisins, and sometimes frozen. They can get quite hard during the drying-out process though, so generally the frozen berries are preferred. Goji berries are found in Chinese cuisine country wide, cooked until they are soft. They are added to many soups, put in with rice and Chinese vegetables, even meat, fish, and chicken. They are used also in a few Chinese teas.
If you want a tasty goji treat, you could try the ale made from these berries at the New Belgium Brewery, or at least get your hands on some 'Wolf Berry Beer.' The Chinese have made a flavored brand of coffee from them too, which isn't any surprise since they also use the leaves for nearly infinite medicinal uses already. - 17268
The small, lavender goji flower will appear as one to three flowers on each stem. It has long stamen in the center, and the oblong leaves are nothing out of the ordinary to look at, however, the berry is a bright red square looking oblong shape. The main area that you find these plants is in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Ningxia province in the west of china and the north central areas of China, respectively.
Our western-world health food industries advertises two main types of Goji berry. Tibetan goji and Himalayan goji, both types being very common in our health-food stores and of course online. However this berry does not grow in either one of these regions! The Himalayan mountains are simply too cold to grow Goji trees in today. Once upon a time they were said to be the birthplace of all goji, but today the frost will simply wipe these fragile trees out.
In the early 1700's, the goji plant was brought to the United Kingdom. That is where it got the nickname of Duke of Argyll's tea tree. It has been growing wild in the the UK for over three hundred years now, and has been naturalized as an ornamental and edible plant for that area. Near Ipswich, and in surrounding areas of Suffolk Sandlings, Hadley, Walberswick and Bawdsey, this plant can be found growing wildly in hedge rows, although its nutrients are suspected to be reduced from those of its Chinese cousins.
Wolfberries, in their fresh form, cannot make the trip safely across the oceans to other countries. Therefore they cannot be exported fresh, but rather are shipped dried like raisins, and sometimes frozen. They can get quite hard during the drying-out process though, so generally the frozen berries are preferred. Goji berries are found in Chinese cuisine country wide, cooked until they are soft. They are added to many soups, put in with rice and Chinese vegetables, even meat, fish, and chicken. They are used also in a few Chinese teas.
If you want a tasty goji treat, you could try the ale made from these berries at the New Belgium Brewery, or at least get your hands on some 'Wolf Berry Beer.' The Chinese have made a flavored brand of coffee from them too, which isn't any surprise since they also use the leaves for nearly infinite medicinal uses already. - 17268
posted by X - Men at
2:49 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home