Goji berry is a traditional Chinese medicine often used for health preservation and wellness. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that goji berries have the effects of nourishing the liver and kidneys, replenishing essence, and improving eyesight. Regular consumption of goji berries can help delay aging, whiten and nourish the skin, nourish the liver and improve eyesight, and replenish deficiency and generate essence. Autumn is a time of significant temperature changes, making it the most susceptible season for health issues. The maturation period for goji berries is from May to October, so they are mostly ripe and suitable for consumption in autumn.
The goji berries sold on the market vary greatly in quality, and some are even illegally processed. When selecting goji berries, one should remember the "three no-pick" principle.
Do not pick those with bright and uniform color.
The color of goji berries is generally purplish-red or dark red. Those that look exceptionally bright and have an extremely uniform red color are often sulfur-fumigated or dyed with pigment. Additionally, you can observe the base of the goji berry. A normal goji berry should have a small white or slightly yellow spot at its base. When dyed with pigment, this spot turns red, and when sulfur-fumigated, it turns brown.
Do not pick those with a sulfur smell.
Pick up a handful of goji berries and hold them in your hand for a moment. If you can smell a pungent sulfur odor, they are definitely sulfur-fumigated.
Do not pick those that are too sweet or not sweet.
Normal goji berries are very sweet, but leave a slightly bitter aftertaste. If the goji berries you taste only have an intense sweetness, there might be a problem. Processed goji berries may have other tastes; for example, goji berries soaked with alum will have a heavy bitter taste, and sulfur-fumigated goji berries will have a sour and astringent taste.
The nutritional value of goji berries is not closely related to their size. Therefore, when selecting goji berries, there is no need to pay too much attention to size. As long as you remember the three points mentioned above, you will generally be fine. Additionally, high heat can cause the loss of nutritional components in goji berries. When using them in soups or stir-fries, try to add them later to ensure their effectiveness.