Black goji berries (黑枸杞), scientifically known as Lycium ruthenicum, are a rare variety of wolfberry native to the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. These small, dark purple-black berries have been used in Tibetan and Chinese medicine for centuries, prized as "black diamonds" for their exceptional nutritional value.
In traditional medicine systems, black goji berries were considered more potent than their red counterparts, reserved for emperors and nobility. Ancient texts describe them as longevity berries that could "brighten the eyes and nourish the essence." The berries grow on thorny bushes that thrive in harsh, arid conditions at elevations of 3,000-4,500 meters.
What makes black goji berries truly remarkable is their extraordinarily high anthocyanin content (the antioxidants that give them their deep color) - up to 10 times more than blueberries. This, combined with their unique polysaccharides, makes them one of nature's most powerful superfoods.
