From my recent trip to Singapore, I got back a couple of food items not easily available or cooked with in India: dried goji berries (also called wolfberries) and Chinese dates (also called jujubes). I had them for the first time there in a clear vegetable soup – one spoonful and I was a fan. I went on to learn more about how these ingredients could be used, was especially struck with the idea of Goji Berry Tea and resolved to make it in my own kitchen.
It wouldn’t be too far off to say that when goji berries and Chinese dates come together in tea, they are like Doctor Strange and Iron Man joining forces. One’s got healing properties revered in Chinese medicine, wrapped in a dry mild tartness; the other’s spunky and sweet and loaded with – what else – iron. Both take a while of slow simmering to release their flavors and goodness, and complement each other’s tastes.
Though media claims of their superpowers occasionally go into the realm of fantasy, there is no denying that Goji Berry tea with Chinese dates is an immensely soothing concoction.
On to the recipe. This may not be the traditional way of making goji Berry Tea as the recipe has been received via word of mouth – there may have been loss in transmission (Chinese whispers, if you will) and some adaptation for personal taste. I have experimented with boiling for different duration, changing the quantities of the ingredients, and eventually settled for the recipe as I lay out below.
You Need:
[for 1 cup of goji berry tea]
- Dried goji berries/wolfberries – 1/2 tablespoon (buy on Amazon)
- Dried Chinese dates/red dates/jujube – 2 or 3 (buy on Amazon)
- Water – 1.5 cups
The links above are amazon.com affiliate links. The Steaming Pot will earn a small commission if you buy via the links, at no additional cost to you.
How To Make Goji Berry Tea with Chinese Dates:
Slit a cross at the ends of each date. Soak the dates in half a cup of water for 6-8 hours.
Transfer the soaked dates, along with the water they were soaked in, into a thick-surfaced saucepan. Add goji berries, and then water – remember to add some extra per cup to allow for reduction during boiling.
Bring to a bubbling boil.
Simmer for 30 minutes.
You will find the water now colored a beautiful amber, and the goji berries swollen and bursting.
Cover and let the tea steep for at least another 15 minutes. [I sometimes let it stand for several hours for an even richer flavor, and reheat just before drinking.]
Goji berry tea / wolfberry with Chinese dates is ready.
>
Enjoy the tea hot, with a spoon for eating the dates and goji berries floating in the tea.
Notes:
- Chinese dates have seed pits in them. When serving goji berry tea to guests, give a side plate for placing the picked out pits from the dates. If that sounds messy, you could de-seed the dates after soaking and before adding them to the tea for boiling.
- Goji berries and red dates have a high concentration of vitamins and antioxidants. If you are under medication or have a health condition, do check with your doctor before making this tea a regular part of your diet.
- If you want the tea sweeter, add some jaggery, honey or rock sugar.
- You might also like: orange clove tea.
The post Goji Berry Tea with Chinese Dates appeared first on The Steaming Pot.
