Many people have been fascinated by Shangri-La, the mythical Himalayan abode of immortals as written by British novelist James Hilton in his book Lost Horizon. Today, another concept born out of the Himalayas is sweeping the imagination of the Western consumer world – the vitality, health, youth and well-being fostered by Himalayan Goji berry. One of the most common ways to partake of the benefits that this berry supposedly brings is by drinking Goji berry juice. The berries could also be consumed raw, cooked or in its dried form.

But first what is a Goji berry? This fruit comes from a vine with the Latin name Lycium barbarum that grows extensively in the sheltered Himalayan valleys of Mongolia and Tibet. L. barbarum grows up to 3 meters in height and is classified as a deciduous woody perennial. Himalayan Goji berry is known as wolfberry in China, with boxthorn and matrimony vine also among its common names in other parts of the world.

All Lycium berry varieties are said to contain some medicinal values. In China, the wolfberry is an important crop in many of the country’s regions exporting the commodity to the tune of millions of dollars annually. Most Goji berry juice marketers, however, regard Himalayan Goji berries as the best fruits to extract juices from. Their reason is that the berries from the Himalayas contain denser nutrients, having been grown in ancient soils and in areas that have not been ravaged by pollution or laced with chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

There’s a peculiar way by which to harvest the Himalayan Goji berry. The fruits, which are grape-sized and red, are dislodged by shaking the vine instead of picking the berry by hand. It is said that touching the berry while still fresh on the vine will cause oxidation in the fruit, make it turn black and spoil the harvest. Slow drying in the shade is the method used to preserve the fruit which tastes like a combination of cherry and cranberry to most people.

While Goji berry juice is now popular as a health food supplement, the people of the Himalayas, particularly those in Mongolia and Tibet, have been taking Goji berries as a single food source. These peoples even have local Goji berry festivals, and have regarded the fruit as “the happy berry” in celebration of the well-being that it supposedly promotes.

Aside from being a tonic energy drink, Goji berry juice has also found use in traditional herbal medicine. The leaves of the plant are brewed by herbalists to make a tea to address a wide array of disorders like eyesight problems and skin rashes. For the berries, 50 grams of fruits taken daily is recommended in traditional Chinese medicine in order to build body strength, achieve longevity and sexual potency.

Skimming through the promotional materials of Goji berry juice also reveals other health-promoting properties of Himalayan berries: dieuretic, vasodilator, antipyretic, antibacterial, purgative, and ophthalmic. There are also investigations on the anti-cancer benefits that could be derived from the Himalayan Goji berry, which if true could have a profound impact much more than Hilton’s Shangri La.

Author Bio: For more information on Goji Berry Juice, visit Himalayan Goji Berry blog.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: Himalayan Goji berry,goji bery juice,goji berry,acai berry,acai,goji