Tag: vitamin C

goji berries

Goji Berry: It’s a Super Food, But Does it Taste Super Good?

Bella Newman

I have been trying to eat and cook a lot healthier lately and I came across an awesome superfood called goji berries. As they’ve gained popularity rather recently, I am sure you are wondering: 

What do goji berries taste like?

Goji Berry

I was definitely hesitant to try them out at first because they sound quite exotic, and I had heard not so good reviews about the taste, but you have to try everything at least once, right?

Here’s the lowdown on goji berries, how to prepare them, and why you should start eating this superfood – right now!

Where to Goji?

Goji berries are commonly grown in Asia, mainly in China and in the Himalayas of Tibet. You may also hear them being referred to by different names – Chinese wolfberries of Tibetan goji (source).

Goji Berry

Nowadays, goji berries can be found in some well-stocked groceries – check out your local grocer’s health food section – or in most health food stores. These superfoods are all the rage now, so you should not have a hard time finding them in dried or powdered form. You may have to search a little bit harder for the fresh berries, though.

Berry Good

While goji berries are seeing a resurgence in popularity today, they have actually been around for centuries, used in ancient Chinese medicine.

Goji Berry
  • In Chinese medicine, goji berries are included in immune tonics and blood tonics (source) as they pack a powerful punch of vitamin C, boosting the immune system significantly (source).
  • High in antioxidants, the berries are also anti-inflammatory.
  • They are chockful of micronutrients like vitamin A and iron, and contain a complete set of the eight essential amino acids (source).
Goji Berry
  • A one-ounce serving of the berries has 4 grams of protein and three grams of fiber. They are also fat-free and low in calories. A combination of this is great for a regular bowel movement and promotes weight loss.
  • Loaded with beta-carotene, the berries also promote good eyesight and healthy skin.

The legendary healing properties might be just that, however – a legend. There is no solid scientific evidence on the goji berry’s ability to cure cancer and reverse the effects of aging, so take those bigger claims with a grain of salt.

A Little Bit of Everything

Talking of salt, I bet you’re dying to know by now how these berries taste.…

Baobab, mango, mulberry and ginger bites

Bella Newman

It’s Thursday and it’s looking a bit grey and wet outside, so here are some energy-boosting sunshine squares to boost you through today and the rest of the week.

These delicious bites are not only energy-boosting, but super-skin boosting too. This is thanks to not only the skin-plumping good fats from cashew nuts, hemp, and sunflowers seeds, but thanks to the amazing feel-good fruit, Baobab! Baobab, I love to use Aduna, is rich in vitamin C, almost 50% fiber and higher in antioxidants than goji berries and acai berries. Vitamin C helps protect cells from oxidative stress, contributes to the normal formation of collagen in the skin and helps promote good skin health, not forgetting the antioxidant-rich white mulberries, alkalizing mango and immune-boosting ginger which is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. These gorgeous squares are the perfect pick-me-up for when you need them plus they’re delicious, as everything we eat MUST taste great, and just happen to be very nourishing at the same time. With its great citrus flavor, baobab also really lifts up and compliments the sweet mango, whilst the mulberries add a little extra happiness!

Makes about 30 small square bites

100g dried mango soaked for 1 hour in cold water, preferably filtered
3 tsp lemon juice
Pinch Himalayan pink salt
50g cashew butter
50g hulled hemp seeds
60g sunflower seeds
60g cashew nuts, roughly chopped
20g fresh ginger, peeled if not organic and roughly chopped
50g desiccated coconut
6-8 tsp baobab powder
30g dried white mulberries

Drain the soaked mango and leave in a sieve for about 15 minutes to let the excess water drain off. Add the soaked mango, lemon juice, salt and cashew butter to the food processor and blend until a smooth paste forms. Add the hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, cashew nuts, chopped ginger and desiccated coconut and blend once more to combine. Add the baobab powder to your preferred taste and blend once more. Lastly add the whole dried white mulberries and pulse just a few times.

Remove everything from the blender and turn out into a tin lined with baking parchment. Press the mix into a rough square shape no more than 1cm thick. Place in the freezer for 1 hour to firm up and then cut into small squares. Finish the squares off by dipping them in a little extra desiccated coconut if you like.

Keep the squares in the fridge for …