Ningxia Goji Berries

Ningxia Goji Berries

Ningxia Goji Berries are a protected geographical indication product.

　　Goji belongs to the Solanaceae family and is a deciduous shrub. It has clustered stems with short thorns. The leaves are ovate-lanceolate. It blooms in summer and autumn with pale purple flowers. The fruit is an oval-shaped, red berry and is a valuable tonic medicinal herb.

　　Ningxia has a history of cultivating goji berries for four or five hundred years. The natural conditions here are ideal for goji growth. The berries produced in Ningxia are large, fleshy, have few seeds, and are of excellent taste, rich in various nutrients essential for the human body. They have multiple health benefits such as nourishing the lungs, cleansing the liver, supporting the kidneys, benefiting qi, enriching essence, enhancing yang, relieving fatigue, dispelling wind, and improving eyesight. Especially noteworthy are the polysaccharide content, which has significant medical and health benefits for the human body, and the organic germanium content, which is beneficial for intellectual development—both are higher than in other Chinese provinces. To develop goji resources, the region has created many food products, mainly including: goji crystal soft candy, goji tea, goji crystals, and goji medicinal wine.

　　Ningxia experiences large diurnal temperature variations, has fresh air, and fertile soil—all suitable for growing goji. Ningxia is the origin of goji and one of the best and longest-cultivated regions in the world. The high quality of Ningxia goji is attributed to the region's unique geographic and climatic conditions, surpassing those of goji from other areas. Ningxia goji is rich in 18 amino acids, over 30 trace elements, and various bioactive alkaloids. Among them, the levels of beta-carotene, vitamin E, and goji polysaccharides are 10%–70% higher than those of goji from other producing areas.

　　 According to *Compendium of Materia Medica*, “Goji is sweet, mild, and moistening; it nourishes and supplements, benefits the liver, and improves eyesight…” *Dietary Materia Medica* states that goji can “strengthen tendons and bones… eliminate fatigue, and replenish essence and qi.” The 1984 edition of *Chinese Pharmacopoeia* clearly specifies that the goji used in medicine is the dried mature fruit of Ningxia goji, with effects such as “protecting the liver, improving eyesight, nourishing the kidneys, and enriching essence.” Clinical tests conducted by institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Hubei Medical University, and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences have confirmed that the polysaccharide components in Ningxia goji enhance the human immune system, delay aging, inhibit cancer cell growth, and help prevent AIDS, among other unique benefits. They also help lower blood lipids and blood sugar, resist radiation, tolerate hypoxia, and improve skin beauty. Known as the “Red Treasure,” Ningxia goji ranks first among the “Five Treasures of Ningxia,” with those from Zhongning being the finest.

　　 Nutritional Composition Table of Goji (per 100 grams)

　　 Calcium 112.50mg Crude Fiber 7.78g Carbohydrates 57.82g

　　 Phosphorus 203.10mg Crude Fat 7.14g Ascorbic Acid 18.4g

　　 Iron 8.42mg Crude Protein 12.10g Niacin 4.32g

　　 Thiamine 0.153mg Riboflavin 1.27mg Carotene 7.38g

　　 Sugar 46.50mg Calories 362.20Kcal Total Amino Acids per 100mg 8.48mg