Goji Berry: The Miraculous Plant That Is Both Medicine and Food

Goji Berry: The Miraculous Plant That Is Both Medicine and Food
Goji berry (scientific name: Lycium barbarum L.) is a plant with a long history that serves as both medicine and food. It is a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb and a common health food in daily life. This report comprehensively introduces this miraculous plant from multiple perspectives, including botanical characteristics, historical and cultural background, main varieties, and consumption methods.

I. Botanical Characteristics of Goji Berry
Goji berry belongs to the Lycium genus in the Solanaceae family and is a deciduous shrub. Its main trunk is approximately 10 to 20 centimeters thick, with sturdy main branches and light gray outer bark. The tree grows to about 1.5 meters tall. In cultivation, goji trees are typically pruned to form a round crown with varying diameters. Goji has extremely strong resistance to cold, drought, and alkaline soil. It has vigorous vitality and good sand control properties. These characteristics allow goji to grow in relatively harsh natural environments, especially in northwestern China where it is widely cultivated.

II. Historical and Cultural Background of Goji Berry
The written records of goji berry span over 4,000 years, while its medicinal use has a history of more than 3,000 years. Since the 14th year of Emperor Hongzhi's reign in the Ming Dynasty (1501), when Ningxia goji berries were designated as "tribute fruit," they have enjoyed over 500 years of historical significance. After the Ming Dynasty, the fruit of the goji plant was primarily used for medicinal purposes, with those produced in "Ganzhou" considered the best for their sweet and delicious taste.

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, goji berries were classified as a superior herb in the "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica" and have been documented in various herbal texts throughout history, earning the name "longevity fruit." Traditional Chinese medicine holds that goji berries can nourish the kidneys and essence, benefit the liver and improve eyesight, enrich blood and calm the mind, generate body fluids to quench thirst, and moisten the lungs to stop coughing. Consuming them regularly throughout the four seasons can strengthen the body and promote longevity. The ancient long-lived elder Li Qingyuan reportedly achieved his longevity by regularly drinking goji berry water.

In Chinese traditional culture, goji berries are regarded as auspicious items, often associated with positive meanings such as "longevity" and "health." In folk traditions, goji berry tea, goji berry wine, and other traditional beverages are also quite popular, reflecting the Chinese pursuit of a natural and healthy lifestyle.

III. Main Varieties of Goji Berry and Their Characteristics
Based on fruit color and botanical characteristics, goji berries can be divided into several varieties, with the main ones including:

Ningxia Goji Berry (Red Goji Berry)
Ningxia goji berry (scientific name: Lycium barbarum L.) is the main cultivated variety in China. Its fruit is red and is commonly used as a tonic in traditional Chinese medicine. Ningxia goji berries are of the highest quality, rich in carotene, various vitamins, calcium, iron, and other nutrients. They are known for their ability to improve eyesight, hence the colloquial name "eye-brightening fruit." Ningxia goji berries have over 4,000 years of written history and more than 3,000 years of medicinal use, making them a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb.

Black Goji Berry
Black goji berries are distributed in northern Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Tibet in China. The fruit turns purple-black when ripe. Its main chemical components are anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Modern pharmaceutical research shows that black goji berries contain high levels of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, giving them strong antioxidant properties. This has made them one of the goji berry varieties that has gained attention in recent years.

Northern Goji Berry
Northern goji berry is another major variety, with small-scale cultivation in the Hebei region. Compared to Ningxia goji berries, northern goji berries differ in fruit color and size, with some variations in their medicinal and nutritional values.

Other Varieties
There are 7 species and 3 varieties of Lycium plants in China. In addition to the main varieties mentioned above, there are also yellow goji berries and other types. Different varieties of goji berries have certain differences in appearance, chemical composition, and efficacy, providing people with diverse choices.

IV. Consumption Methods of Goji Berries
Goji berries can be consumed in various ways, which can be chosen according to personal preference and health needs. The following are several common methods of consuming goji berries:

Direct Consumption
Fresh goji berries can be eaten directly, with a sweet taste and unique flavor. Dried goji berries can also be chewed directly. Daily consumption in appropriate amounts (generally around 20 grams) can achieve tonic and health-preserving effects.

Steeping in Water
Steeping goji berries in water is a common way of consumption, simple and suitable for most people. Soak goji berries in warm or cool water, let them steep for a moment before drinking, and they can be infused multiple times. It's important to note that the water temperature should not be too high to avoid destroying the effective components in goji berries. Generally, it is recommended to use warm water at 40-60°C for steeping.

Cooking
Goji berries can be used as an ingredient in various dishes, such as stir-fried chicken with goji berries or steamed fish with goji berries. The sweetness of goji berries can enhance the taste of dishes while also increasing their nutritional value.

Formula Drinks
Goji berries can be combined with other Chinese medicinal herbs or ingredients to make various health teas or medicinal foods. For example, goji berry and chrysanthemum tea can clear heat and improve eyesight, suitable for autumn consumption; goji berry and red date tea can nourish blood and calm the mind, suitable for women; goji berry and longan tea can nourish blood and calm the mind, suitable for those with insomnia.

Processed Products
Goji berries can also be processed into various products, such as dried goji berries, goji berry powder, goji berry tea, and goji berry wine, making them convenient for different groups of people to choose from.