Cultivate
How to Eat Goji Berries
Published May 26, 2020. Read time: 5 mins
How to Eat Goji Berries
Goji berries! It’s ya birthday! At least that’s how goji berries make you feel when you eat them.
These hard-to-find fruits are beloved for their sour and tart berry flavor. Plus, they boast an impressive list of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and even contain 4g of protein per serving! Goji berries are distinctively sour, tart and earthy, with an unexpected herbaceous kick that keeps fans coming back for more. That’s one out-of-the box berry if you ask us.
Most often, goji berries are found in their dry form. Dried goji berries are dark orange, with an oblong shape making them look like little, dried berry footballs. Their flavor is similar to a sour craisin, with a texture that’s chewy and fleshy like dried mango.
On the other hand, fresh goji berries look like tiny, oblong tomatoes with shiny, bright red skin. Because young goji berries can be red and still not be ripe enough to eat, they’re usually harvested only after they’ve sweetened up. That means if you’re lucky enough to find fresh goji berries, they’re almost always ready to eat right away.
You can eat them alone as a snack, brew them into beverages, add them raw to salads and toppings, or cook them into sweet and savory recipes. Goji berries add a flash of bright color, pleasantly bitter flavor and a chewy texture to snacks, meals, baked goods and other dishes.
Dried goji berries can last in a sealed container in your pantry for about twelve months. If you live in a more humid climate, check on them often to prevent them from spoiling too soon.
How to prepare your goji berry will depend on the recipe you’re using. Here are the most common ways to prepare goji berry for just about any recipe.
Eating Raw Goji Berries
Whether fresh or dried, goji berries are eaten whole, with seeds, skin and all. Goji berries are easy to enjoy raw, or in creative recipes where you want bitter and tart flavor and a bit of chewy texture. Here are some of the most common ways to eat raw goji berries:
- Scoop up a handful of dried goji berries for a nutritious snack on the go!
- Coarsely chop dried goji berries and sprinkle them on top of your morning yogurt, oatmeal, salads, granola, acai bowls and trail mix.
- Add goji berries to raw fruit leathers and energy bars for a boost of sour flavor, protein and antioxidants
Cooking Goji Berry
Goji berries are easy to incorporate into recipes that call for other types of dried fruits or fresh berries. And just because they have a reputation for being healthy doesn’t mean they’re not delicious! The sour, cranberry-like goji berry flavor comes to life when things get hot!
- Rice dishes: Whether its rice pudding, pilaf or biryani, goji berries and rice are a delicious pair.
- Baking: goji berry can be baked into cakes, breads, cookies and desserts.
- Confection: The bitterness of goji berry is delicious in jams, jellies and candy making.
- Roasting: Goji berry’s flavor stands up to long periods in the oven, and is versatile enough to work with all kinds of proteins from fish to chicken and red meats.
Drinking Goji Berry
Goji berries add a sour and bitter flavor to all kinds of beverages. Shakes, smoothies, cocktails, juices and teas are all made tastier by adding either fresh or dried goji berry.
Here are some easy ways use goji berry in your drinks:
- Tea: One of the most popular ways to drink goji berries is by reconstituting them in warm water or dropping a few in your herbal tea.
- Juicing: Fresh goji berries can be fed into a juicer, or dried goji berries can be reconstituted for juice making. Goji berry juice is excellent on its own or with other produce like oranges and summer fruits like strawberry, peach and mango.
- Blended drinks: Toss in a handful of goji berries alongside or instead of other dried fruits like raisins or dates.
- Water: Add goji berry to add to your water bottle along with a few orange slices and mint delicious on-the-go refresher.
Do you feel like a goji berry eating expert now? Show us your favorite ways to prepare and eat goji berry by tagging us in your culinary masterpieces on Instagram @Fruitstandcom!