Goji berries are the small, oblong, red-orange fruit of Lycium barbarum, a woody shrub native to China. Dried, they taste mildly sweet and slightly tart, a little like a cross between a dried cranberry and a cherry. Goji berry is one of the 15 botanicals in TeaTapee’s blend, where it adds a soft, fruity sweetness that rounds off the finish.
This profile covers the berry itself: what it is, what it is called, where it grows, what it tastes like, and how it is used in food and drink.
What is a goji berry?
The goji plant, Lycium barbarum, is a shrub in the nightshade family, Solanaceae, the same family as tomatoes, peppers and potatoes. Its fruit is a bright orange-red, oval berry about 1–2 cm long, usually sold dried, when it looks rather like a red raisin. A closely related species, Lycium chinense, is also sold as goji.
What is goji called in other languages?
“Goji” is an approximation of the Chinese name, 枸杞 (gǒuqǐ). In English the plant is also called wolfberry, a name whose origin is uncertain. In Thai, goji berries are kao kee (เก๋ากี้). On TeaTapee’s ingredient list the same plant appears as wolfberry, Lycium barbarum.
Where do goji berries come from?
Goji is native to northern and central China. Its best-known growing region is Ningxia, in north-central China, where it has been cultivated for more than 600 years and where much of the world’s dried goji still comes from.
What do goji berries taste like?
Dried goji berries are mildly sweet and slightly tart. The usual comparison is somewhere between a dried cranberry and a cherry: less sharp than a cranberry, gentler than a cherry, and sometimes likened to a raisin.
How are goji berries used in food and drink?
In Chinese cooking, dried goji berries go into soups, congee and slow-braised dishes, where they add a gentle sweetness and a spot of color, and into desserts and teas. They also turn up in clear soups and braised dishes in Thai kitchens, and are often eaten straight from the bag like raisins.
What does goji berry add to TeaTapee’s blend?
In TeaTapee’s blend, goji berry is finely ground with the other 14 botanicals and sealed into tea bags. It is one of the soft, rounding botanicals: mildly sweet and tart, it adds a faint, mellow fruitiness that, together with orange blossom, rounds off the sharper notes at the finish and brings a little natural sweetness to a cup with no added sugar. It becomes easier to pick out as the cup cools.
The role of each herb explains how the quieter notes come through, the guide to all 15 herbs covers the rest of the blend, and brewing the perfect cup covers how to make a cup.
If you would like to taste it, goji berry is one of the 15 botanicals in TeaTapee’s 15-herb tea bags.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scientific name of the goji berry?
The goji berry is the fruit of Lycium barbarum, a shrub in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. A related species, Lycium chinense, is also sold as goji.
What does a goji berry taste like?
Dried goji berries taste mildly sweet and slightly tart, often compared to something between a dried cranberry and a cherry.
Is goji the same as wolfberry?
Yes. Goji and wolfberry are two names for the same fruit, Lycium barbarum. “Goji” comes from the Chinese name, gǒuqǐ.
What is goji called in Thai?
Goji berries are called kao kee (เก๋ากี้) in Thai. In Chinese they are gǒuqǐ (枸杞).
Where do goji berries come from?
Goji is native to northern and central China. The best-known growing region is Ningxia, where it has been cultivated for more than 600 years.