Q1) How are the ingredients of GojiGarden processed?

All ingredients are freeze-dried. In comparison, the most dried fruits have a moisture content of around 15%-25% but our freeze-drying process results in a residual moisture content of less than 5%. This results in longer shelf life, reduced weight and volume, retention of flavor and aroma and easy rehydration.

 

Q2) Does GojiGarden have added flavoring?

GojiGarden does not have added flavoring.

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Q3) Are rose, yuzu, and osmanthus added to GojiGarden just for the flavor?

No. Each ingredient is added for its unique plant nutrients and phytochemicals.

 

Q4) Can I use GojiGarden in my cooking or drinks and foods preparation?

Yes! You can incorporate GojiGarden into your cooking, drinks, desserts, baked goods, light meals and waters. Try out new recipes and experiment with flavors to create healthy and exciting dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious!

Here are some suggestions for your reference.

Drinks: Tea, smoothies, juice

Desserts: Shaved ice, jelly, ice cream, yogurt

Baked goods: Bread, pastries, cakes

Hot foods: Congee, soup, stir-fried noodles, roasted vegetables, soy sauce

Light meals: Salad, oatmeal, cereal, fruit

Water: Add in GojiGarden for a beautiful jewel-like tea.

 

Q5) Can I add GojiGarden to other products?

Yes! GojiGarden can be added to other products for an extra boost of plant nutrients. The color may change depending on the products used or the mineral content of the water.

Product combination suggestions for your reference.

GojiGarden Rose + RosyTime / Rhapsody / Phytofit / SoyPro

GojiGarden Osmanthus + ChaMoment / E-Munity / Phytofit / SoyPro

GojiGarden Yuzu + BerryBeat / RaisinTree / FiberTalk / SoyGreen / Phytofit / SoyPro

 

Q6) How many calories are there in a sachet of GojiGarden?

Each sachet of GojiGarden has about 8 calories.

 

Q7) Can I mix GojiGarden with hot water?

Yes! You can mix GojiGarden with hot or cold water. Use water of any temperature you like.

 

Q8) Will GojiGarden clump?

GojiGarden may clump because there is no silicon dioxide to prevent clumping. But even if there are clumps, they do not affect the nutritional value of the product.

 

Q9) What is the difference between black goji berries and red goji berries?

Black goji berries differ from red goji berries in a number of ways, including their antioxidant activity and nutrient content. Compared to red goji berries, black goji berries contain higher levels of monomeric anthocyanins, total phenolics, and other beneficial plant compounds.

 

Q10) Why are black goji berries so much more expensive than red goji berries?

Black goji is a rare plant species that originates in the Himalayan Mountains in Central Asia. Black goji plants are difficult to cultivate and only grow at high elevations of 8,800 to 9,800 feet above sea level. Additionally, the bushes are very thorny, which makes harvesting the berries a challenge that requires special tools such as tweezers. All these factors contribute to the higher cost of black goji berries.

 

Q11) Why do black goji berries change color depending on the liquid they are steeped in?

Black goji berries change color depending on the pH of the liquid they are steeped in! In neutral water, like distilled water, they produce a lovely purplish-pink hue. But in water with a higher pH, such as water with a high mineral content, they can take on a bluish-purple color. If you want to experiment with the color, try adding something acidic to lower the pH—a squeeze of lemon juice will do the trick and can even turn the liquid pink!

 

Q12) What gives black goji berries their dark color?

Black goji berries are rich in plant nutrients and particularly abundant in anthocyanins, which give them their distinctive dark hue.

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Q13) Will black goji berries stain clothing, skin, or teeth?

Yes. Black goji berries can stain clothing, skin, or teeth, just like other dark berries such as blueberries, mulberries, and acai berries as well as other foods such as soy sauce and coffee.

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Q14) How to distinguish between genuine and fake black goji berries?

Black goji berries are rare and rich in nutrients, so their price is relatively high. Driven by huge profits, many merchants have started selling fake black goji berries.

Here are 3 ways to distinguish between genuine and fake black goji berries:

1. Look at the shape
👉 Genuine black goji berries have a slightly flattened oval shape, and after drying, the skin wrinkles and shrinks, resembling the shape of a kidney. On the other hand, most counterfeit black goji berries are white thorn fruits. Although they are also oval-shaped, the upper radius is longer than that of real black goji berries, making them elongated ovals.

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2. Taste
👉 Real black goji berries have a slightly sweet taste, but very mild, with a slightly astringent taste upon consumption. However, counterfeit black goji berries (white thorn fruits) have a higher sweetness level than real black goji berries, with a distinctly sweet taste upon consumption.

3. Observe changes after soaking
👉 This method requires soaking the black goji berry samples in water for 5 to 10 minutes and observing the changes in their state afterward. Anthocyanins, which are abundant in black goji berries, turn purple in an acidic environment and blue in an alkaline environment. This is a chemical reaction that can help distinguish between genuine and fake. When the anthocyanins are completely released, the color of real black goji berries will fade until they become transparent or semi-transparent. However, counterfeit black goji berries that do not contain anthocyanins will not change color and will remain purple-black.

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Q15) How are black goji berries typically processed, stored, and consumed in the market? Why do these methods result in nutrient loss?

⚠️Black Goji Berry Processing Problem
Black goji berries are generally divided into two processing methods: natural drying and drying, both of which result in nutrient loss consequences.

The commonly seen black goji berries are primarily naturally dried. After harvesting, farmers place the berries under the sun for natural drying. This process typically takes about a week to completely dry in sunny conditions, and adding edible alkali can expedite the drying process. During natural drying, the berries are susceptible to contamination from dust, bacteria, and other pollutants in the air. Additionally, nutrients such as antioxidants, anthocyanins, polyphenols, and vitamin C are lost due to light, heat, oxygen, and the passage of time. Although the drying process reduces pollution issues, the problem of nutrient loss becomes more severe due to high-temperature drying.

⚠️Black Goji Berry Storage Problem
After drying, black goji berries are packed into bags or jars, which are repeatedly opened by users until all berries are consumed. This process exposes the berries to air multiple times, leading to nutrient loss (oxidation) and contamination (bacteria). Since not all black goji berries are consumed at once, the issue of nutrient loss due to time passing persists.

⚠️Black Goji Berry Consumption Problem
Most people use hot water to brew black goji berries, which further deteriorates the nutrients.

✅The best Black Goji Berry Processing, Storage, and Consumption Methods
The best choice is to process black goji berries using high-tech (cleanroom) freeze-drying methods. This process does not require heating, preserving both taste and nutrients without contamination concerns. Turning black goji berries into powder, then individually packaging them allows for brewing a nutritious black goji berry drink using either room temperature or cold water.