Goji: Himalayan or Tibet?

Chinese herbalists have used goji berry as a remedy for about thousands of years. Its recent rediscovery and introduction into the west has made it a popular key ingredient in products made for health and alternative medicine marketing. Traditionally used in general health remedies and for longevity, goji berry, also called wolfberry, has a long list of medicinal uses.

Classified in the nightshade family, lyceum barbarum, some of its relatives are Jimson weed, belladonna, and the tomato. The plant on which the goji grows is an evergreen shrub native to subtropical areas of China, Mongolia and Thailand.

Most commercial goji is grown for the world market in China and Thailand. Producers of health products containing goji berries refer to the fruit as "Himalayan" or "Tibetan" goji, however the climate and agricultural conditions in current day Tibet cannot support its cultivation. The term "Himalayan" may be in deference to the stories of longevity among Tibetan natives due to their natural nutrient properties.

What is the difference between Himalayan and Tibet Goji?
These two terms are mostly marketing terms--like the company or brand name. They do not necessarily mean the goji specified is actually from either of those regions. If you care where the goji berries were grown, just ask and the companies will tell you. Some even have their origin on the bottle or online storefront on their website.

Goji bushes prefer hot, humid weather and well-drained, damp sandy soil. The small shiny, red berries mature from violet cone shaped flower in cluster of eight or ten on each branch. Because the berries are catch the sunlight and shimmer brightly, the natives nicknamed goji the "red diamond fruit".

The berries, bark, leaves and shoots of the goji bush are all used in both herbal remedies and for cooking. Goji berries are dried like raisins, eaten raw, brewed into teas, added to soups, or made into extracts. These concoctions are used for a wide variety of treatments.

Goji berry is used to boost the immune system, strengthen the body's natural defense and aid in general health and longevity. Tonic extracted from the leaves is used as an energy restorative.

Goji is also used in Chinese cooking, added to rice dishes and soups with chicken or pork and vegetables. The berries are brewed into herbal teas, and wolfberries are an ingredient in some wines. Wolfberry leaves are considered a leaf vegetable.

An interesting side note is that wolfberry has been used as a hedge plant in the United Kingdom since the 1730's when Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll had it imported for his own estate gardens. It is known as Duke of Argyll's Tea Tree, and is popular for its red berries which attract a wide variety of birds.

Chemical properties of goji show that it is rich in phytonutrients scientifically confirmed as important to human health. Goji is rich in antioxidants, including zeaxanthin.

Dried goji berries are usually available at Chinese herbalists' shops. Juice, capsules, and other products with goji, including skin creams and muscle rubs, can be found in health food stores and online storefronts.