Chinese wolfberry, latin: Lycium barbarum, Lycium chinense, Chinese: kuoti; English: wolfberry, goji
The nightshade family contains a large number of high-value medicinal plants. Among the most delicious are goji, which are often used in recipes of TCM and are traditionally mixed with ginseng. Goji is commonly found in the Czech Republic as a Lycium barbarum, but its fruits are small and inadequate. Lycium chinense, a large goji species grown in China and Tibet, is used for human consumption. The commercial designation of goji fruits uses a garbled Chinese name, which is written in goji and pronounced [kuo-ti].
Goji is part of many standard TCM herbal mixtures. In a mixture with ginseng and other adaptogens, according to the TCM serves to "balance yin and yang". But let's not confuse Taoist terminology, goji have many prominent features: Although sweet, they have a low glycemic index (GI = 29). About 30% of the dry weight of the pulp is formed by proteoglycan polysaccharides, which belong to the main ingredients of the pulp. Goji also excel in carotenoids (zeaxanthin, lutein, lycopene, β-carotene and cryptoxanthin). More than 70% of its total carotenoid content is zeaxanthin. Goji may contain up to 80mg / 100g of zeaxanthin, which makes it one of the richest sources of this carotenoid. It also contains vitamin C (about 30-140mg / 100g), vitamin B 2 (1.3mg / 100g), calcium (112mg / 100g), potassium (1.1g / 100g), iron (9mg / 100g), zinc (2mg / 100g) and selenium (50µg / 100g), all data refer to dried fruits. Due to the content of carotenoids, specific polysaccharides, raisin-like taste and low glycemic index, goji represent healthier sweets than conventional types of sugar-dried fruit. Unlike other fruits, goji are not acidic and are therefore used in soups in their country of origin. Next time, add a handful of good-quality goji to the vegetable soup or broth. The result will pleasantly surprise you!
Goji is more than mere fruit. It is one of the basic herbs of TCM. The health effects of medicinal plants are realistic with their therapeutic index (toxicity to efficacy) generally superior to conventional drugs. However, Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 explicitly prohibits sellers from listing food and nutritional supplements (where adaptogens belong) any "health claims" other than those approved directly by the European Commission or the European Bureau. food safety. Therefore, you need to find information elsewhere, for example here .
Goji can be eaten without modification or added to teas or meals. It is sweet in direct consumption and replaces raisins in the kitchen. They are a great substitute for sweets for both children and adults. But it is also used for cooking. Soup spoon of goji will improve chicken or beef soup, or roast meat. Cooking softens the fruit and its taste will pleasantly enhance the taste of the food. Eat the fruit after cooking. Goji is a very common part of herbal combinations of TCM.
The recommended daily dose is 6 - 30 grams of dry fruit.