The Goji berry (Gou Qi Zi in China), is a deep-red, dried fruit about the same size as a raisin and tastes like a cross between a cranberry and a cherry.

They are known to be the most nutritionally dense fruit on the planet containing 18 kinds of amino acids (six times higher than bee pollen) and containing all 8 essential amino acids (such as isoleucine and tryptophan).

They contain up to 21 trace minerals (the main ones being zinc, iron, copper, calcium, germanium, selenium, and phosphorus) and are the richest source of carotenoids, including beta-carotene (more beta carotene than carrots), of all known foods or plants on earth.

They contain 500 times the amount of vitamin C, by weight, than oranges making them second only to camu camu as the richest vitamin C source on earth. Goji berries also contain vitamins B1, B2, B6, and vitamin E.

Goji berries contain polysaccharides which fortify the immune system. A polysaccharide found in this fruit has been found to be a powerful secretagogue (a substance that stimulates the secretion of rejuvenative human growth hormone by the pituitary gland).

Goji berries have been traditionally regarded as a longevity, strength-building, and sexual potency food of the highest order. In several study groups with elderly people the berry was given once a day for 3 weeks and the results showed that appetite improved in 95% of the patients, 95% of the patients slept better, and 35% of the patients partially recovered their sexual function.

The famed Li Qing Yuen, who is said to have lived to the age of 250 years (1678-1928), consumed Goji berries daily. The life of Li Qing Yuen is the most well-documented case of extreme longevity known.

A good daily intake of Goji berries is 10-30 grams (a small handful). They may be used as snacks or mixed with recipes or smoothies like other dried fruits.