The Goji What it is.... and isn't Part 1 of 4 |
Harvesting ripe goji berries, Ningxia, China [follow the Wikipedia links]
As world economies merge, plant foods once considered exotic and mystical are becoming more commonly available in stores around the world .... and better understood by science. For those of us watching the global markets for berry commerce, wolfberries (Lycium barbarum L.) -- known more popularly today as goji berries -- first were noticeable on the internet beginning around 1999 -- mainly for their unusual antioxidant strength.
Why should we be interested in goji now ?
Goji juice concentrate Soluble goji juice powder
With the above as introduction, let's get some goji FAQs straight ! [follow the Wikipedia links] 1. What is goji? Goji is wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.), a vine berry in the same plant family (Solanaceae) as tomato, chili pepper and eggplant. On the vine, the juicy, sweet berry measures about 1.5 cm long by 0.5 cm wide looking like a miniature roma tomato (goji is a botanical cousin of the tomato!). It is harvested from July to September (at about 42 degrees northern latitude) in its native China. 2. China??? Is it a safe food? Western consumers have had numerous recalls and warnings of Chinese food products during 2007. To alleviate such pressures, many manufacturers of goji products claim their berry farms in China are certified organic or perform chemical analyses to assure absence of contaminants. Some have safety labs test their berries to show trace or no presence of metals, bacteria and pesticides. For consumers who demand evidence, it's best to ask manufacturers for proof of their certificates or assay results, or request they be posted on the internet. Although some dried berries of good quality can be found via retail internet stores, in European markets and North American Chinatowns, usually it is not possible to determine if these berries are free of contaminants. For manufactured goods like juices, however, it is mandatory in the USA, Canada and European Union to prove Good Manufacturing Practices before products go on the market. Goji was evaluated during 2007 by the British Food Standards Agency, declaring it with a history of consumption in the UK before May 1997 and therefore not subject to regulation as a "novel" food. This only means that its commerce can continue as it has over recent years. Read the UK FSA statement here It does not mean that health claims often associated with marketing of goji products are valid. We'll take a closer look at this topic later in this goji series.
3. How is goji commonly used? Close to where it's harvested, the freshly picked fruit is sold raw in local markets, but traditionally is sun-dried to about 15% water content like a raisin, allowing storage over months for use in meals and drinks, such as tea or wine. In recent years, numerous goji juice products manufactured in the United States have been marketed worldwide as a health elixir.
Picking goji berries in ceremonial harvest dress, Ningxia, China
4. What does goji smell and taste like? Similar to other more common dried berries, dried goji berries have a sweet, fresh fragrance somewhat similar to roasted nuts. Their taste is unique, a combination of mild nut, tomato and cranberry. Pure goji juice has taste of a sweet, fruity tomato juice with nut and pleasant acidic tones. 5. What potential does goji have as a health food that satisfies Western consumers? Aside from its reputation in Asia as a medicinal herb used over centuries, contract laboratory analyses published in recent books have demonstrated a wide nutrient profile. These include several essential nutrients with nearly 100% of the dietary reference intake per day and a richness of antioxidant phytochemicals. As a member of the tomato family, goji has a high carotenoid content, including beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene which are rarely found in common berries. Carotenoid-rich foods and supplements are very popular currently, and do offer several potential health benefits as discussed previously at the Berry Doctor's Journal.
Next in Part 2 !
Future Topics on Goji
References
Archives (click!)
Share this information! Refer a friend to http://berrydoctor.com for sign-up Dr. Paul |
