Wolfberry is another name for the western snowberry, Symphoricarpos occidentalis.
Renowned in Asia as one of nature's most nutritionally dense foods, wolfberries have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for nearly 2,000 years. This special herb comes from Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, the Tian Shan Mountains of western Xinjiang, Qaidam Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and Julu of Hebei Province China.
Wolfberries have long played important roles in traditional Chinese medicine where they are believed to enhance the immune system function, improve eyesight, protect the liver, boost sperm production and improve circulation, among other effects.
In TCM terms, wolfberries are sweet in taste and neutral in nature. They act on the liver, lungs, and kidneys and enrich yin. They can be eaten raw, consumed as juice or wine, brewed into an herbal tea.
Wolfberry fruits also contain zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea where it is thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering roles.
A human supplementation trial showed that daily intake of wolfberries increased plasma levels of zeaxanthin. Several published studies, have also reported possible medicinal benefits of Lycium barbarum, especially due to its antioxidant properties, including potential benefits against cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, vision-related diseases (such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma), having neuroprotective properties or as an anticancer and immunomodulatory agent.
As a food, dried wolfberries are traditionally cooked before consumption. Dried wolfberries are often added to rice congee, as well as used in Chinese tonic soups, in combination with chicken or pork, vegetables, and other herbs.
Various wines containing wolfberries are also produced, including some that are a blend of grape wine and wolfberries. Different from other ordinary goji berry, Tian He sources the best quality goji from a famous and reputable manufacturer in Zhongning, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of northern China, (the reputation of Ningxia wolfberries is widespread throughout Asia.) along the Yellow River where the soil in rich in nutrients and trace mineral.
Not only are they grown in the 'herbal heart of China' but these particular berries are grown on a dedicated 1000 hectares and are the "super" grade which costs around 40% more than the smaller "grade A" berries more commonly sold. This special grade of fresh wolfberry is harvested from the company's certified organic farms and processed with very strict standards. Each grain measures about 20 mm, and is plump, sweet and fresh. Each 50 grams of the dried product contains approximately 180-230 of the "super" classified goji berries which means there is more flesh, more skin, more nutrients, and fewer seeds while being sweeter in taste.
Nutrition Table (per 100g): Calcium 112.50mg Coarse Fibre 7.78g Carbonhydrate 57.82g Phosphate 203.10mg Coarse Fat 7.14g Ascorbic Acid 18.4g Iron 8.42mg Coarse Protein 12.10g Nicoacid 4.32g Thiamine, Vitamin B1 0.153mg Riboflavin, Vitamin B2 1.27mg Carotene 7.38g Sugar 46.50mg Calorie 362.20Kcal Amino Acid Total Quantity 8.48mg
Usage guide: Wolfberries can be used directly, and do not need to be rehydrated prior to use. The berries can also be boiled as a herbal tea, often along with chrysanthemum and/or red jujubes, and packaged teas that are available.
500g Net.
