gojiberry review

Review by Charles Burns:

These berries are thought to be one of the one of the healthiest natural foods. There are many “stories” about the amazing benefits of these berries, many of which may be true, but a few verifiable facts about them (in dried form) follow:

1) High protein (about 12%), and are a complete protein. This is good for anybody, but particularly noteworthy to vegans, who choose not to get their protein from meats.

2) Decent fiber content (about 10%)

3) 18 (!!) amino acids

4) Like most sweet fruits, high in carbs and calories. 100 grams give you about 350-380 calories; roughly 3/4 from carbs and 1/4 from fat.

5) 6 vitamins, 8 amino acids, 11+ minerals (more in trace amounts)

6) Carotenoids, unsaturated fatty acids (this is a good thing), phytosterols (help lower cholesterol), and other healthy (or theoretically healthy but not particularly well researched) phytochemicals.

Enough with the technical jargon. These berries are great in cereal, smoothies (once hydrated), and tea. For tea, try this:

Put water, a small number of berries (6-15ish) and a teabag in your cup, microwave for about a minute per teacup (time varies), drop a small amount in your favorite tea along with the teabag and let the berries and tea steep for about 3 minutes.

This adds a subtle character to green tea (plus an unusual, tasty snack to do with a few of the sips). The flavor seems to blend well with chai and jasmine too. This may work differently for those who use creamer.

I recommend that you try a bag, keeping in mind that you may need to soak the berries in water/tea/whatever in order to make them soft, and see what you think. I have found they make a great addition to my usual cereal-only breakfast because they give me a much-needed protein boost.

If you like them quite a lot, you may want to take the time to look for a supply in a nearby Asian foods store. I have heard they can be purchased at a lower cost in bulk.

Review by E. Gomez:

Having consumed Himalania Goji Berries for over one year, the Navitas Naturals Goji Berry is a great addition to the exotic food market. The Navitas Goji is harder and drier than the Himalania Goji, but the flavor is much sweeter and better tasting.

I love the fact that they’re raw, vegan, sun-dried, and free of chemicals and pesticides! Goji berries are believed to strengthen the immune system, increase energy and reduce fatigue, and reduce the threat of free radicals (due to HIGH levels of antioxidants). Gojis have highest ORAC score to date! The ORAC scale is a standardized test used to measure the total antioxidant potency of foods and nutritional supplements.

Definitely, one of my favorite foods!

Review by Susan M. Badar:

This product was an exceptional find. I have been adding a tablespoon of Navitas Organic Goji Berry Powder to my morning smoothies for 6 months now. My acupuncturist had suggested I add goji berries to my diet, and when I mentioned that I’ve been taking the goji berry powder already, he was impressed.

I feel healthier, more alert, active, less stressful, and no longer tired mid-day. I recommend adding goji powder to any diet.

Review by Alfredo Martinez:

well since almost 2 years now,…NO more colds computer-eye strain and tiredness since me and my wife have been taking this great tasting product! My memory has improved also, I used to forget things unless I wrote them down, now I don’t have to do that anymore, I just remember so clearly! And we are having this stuff literally every day in our early morning breakfast shake. we are 2 busy people who have not much time making a big breakfast, so our first meal is always just a protein shake with raw organic almond-milk with either bananas/ strawberries or blueberries.

The reason for most of the Goji Berries health benefits is the fact that these berries have a very high level of antioxidants, as well as relatively high levels of some important vitamins and minerals. the main reason we wanted to take this because we hurt that Goji Berries contain 19 amino acids–the building blocks of protein–including all eight essential for life of the human body – no other plant can make that claim!

we sure are hooked on this and most likely will never get of the amazon auto-ship program..this is well worth the money!

Review by A. Black:

I was so excited to get a good deal on raw gogi berries. They are usually a lb or more. I have tried them several times before and they were always quite chewy, like raisins, but less plump. The goji berries I have eaten in the past were also raw with no additives(unlike the mass marketed kind with sugar and oil added), so I expected these to be the same. These actually crack and turn to powder when you crush them with your fingers. I tried soaking them, but they just taste like waterlogged, goji-flavored bark. I wanted to return them, but the return info says food items must be returned unopened. I am pretty disappointed in the texture of these goji berries. The expiration date indicates they are fresh (one full year before expiration). I guess I will just grind them up to make powder to add to smoothies and raw chocolate recipes. In the future, however, I will pay the extra money for the chewy goji berries, which taste great on their own and in recipes. The ones I bought here have OK flavor, but they are just so dry. A friend suggested i soak them and try dehydrating them again. I don’t know if i want to bother with that, or if it will even work. the good news is that because they are so dry, the 10 lb bag is pretty big. I imagine that it would take fewer goji berries to make 10 lbs if they were more chewy. Also, this product is much more expensive elsewhere, even when purchased wholesale with a huge minimum order, so if you don’t mind dry berries, this is an inexpensive way to get all the benefits of goji berries. Plus, i didn’t have to pay shipping with Amazon Prime. That’s a huge savings.

The raw cacao powder I bought on Amazon, also from Nativas, was quite good.Navitas Naturals Raw Chocolate Powder, Organic, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2) I highly recommend it. I also bought raw agave nectar (2x 46 oz raw) here, and it is excellent.Madhava Organic Raw Agave Nectar, 46-Ounce Bottle (Pack of 2)

Review by Sean Thomas Brady:

This mix is ideal for keeping on your desk and having very small handfulls throughout the day. A bag would last about 2 weeks.

The mix of tastes is excellent.

Review by D. MCKICHAN:

I ordered these and the goji berries alone. I perfer the mixed berries and togther they taste great. The goji’s alone had a bit of an aftertaste I wasn’ fond of, although if I make my own mix of nuts and other dried berries with the Goji’s sprinkled in they are fine.

Review by Norman P. Nader:

I’ve had 3 bags of these now, and enjoyed the taste combination so much i bought my own goji berries and raw cashews to do a mix for myself (as less cost, of course). This is also good, but the cacao nibs add a great touch as well. Definitely a good product, but for me a bit expensive to eat too often.

Review by Amanda:

As a Nutrition & Style Consultant ([...]), I love each individual item in this product. I am constantly mixing various “super foods” and this made it really easy for me to have a pre-made mix of a few of my favorites.

Amanda

Review by Charles Burns:

These berries are thought to be one of the one of the healthiest natural foods. There are many “stories” about the amazing benefits of these berries, many of which may be true, but a few verifiable facts about them (in dried form) follow:

1) High protein (about 12%), and are a complete protein. This is good for anybody, but particularly noteworthy to vegans, who choose not to get their protein from meats.

2) Decent fiber content (about 10%)

3) 18 (!!) amino acids

4) Like most sweet fruits, high in carbs and calories. 100 grams give you about 350-380 calories; roughly 3/4 from carbs and 1/4 from fat.

5) 6 vitamins, 8 amino acids, 11+ minerals (more in trace amounts)

6) Carotenoids, unsaturated fatty acids (this is a good thing), phytosterols (help lower cholesterol), and other healthy (or theoretically healthy but not particularly well researched) phytochemicals.

Enough with the technical jargon. These berries are great in cereal, smoothies (once hydrated), and tea. For tea, try this:

Put water, a small number of berries (6-15ish) and a teabag in your cup, microwave for about a minute per teacup (time varies), drop a small amount in your favorite tea along with the teabag and let the berries and tea steep for about 3 minutes.

This adds a subtle character to green tea (plus an unusual, tasty snack to do with a few of the sips). The flavor seems to blend well with chai and jasmine too. This may work differently for those who use creamer.

Of note:

- If you let them soak for too long (more than about 5-10 minutes) they get mushy and lose their texture and flavor.

- If you do not soak them long enough, they can feel a little bit gritty. I think this is due to the seeds. I don’t mind it myself, but some might.

I recommend that you try a bag, keeping in mind that you may need to soak the berries in water/tea/whatever in order to make them soft, and see what you think. I have found they make a great addition to my usual cereal-only breakfast because they give me a much-needed protein boost.

If you like them quite a lot, you may want to take the time to look for a supply in a nearby Asian foods store. I have heard they can be purchased at a lower cost in bulk.

The reviewer that reported these are “gross” may have received something from a bad batch. I think they have a nice cranberry/raisin-ish flavor and have almost no noticeable odor (and the odor isn’t an unpleasant one to me).

Review by Another Brick in the Wall:

I ordered these from Amazon to give them a try. I was very pleased.

They taste good just plain — dried cherries or cranberries is the closest comarisson I can think of, but the Goji is a bit pinker and larger, more like a berry. They are slightly sweet but not sticky. I’m sure they’d be great in pancackes, trailmix or ice cream too.

They are low calorie and have good vitamins, plus some fiber and protein.

It’s like having the culuture of the Tibetan mountains shipped to you.

Very good stuff.

Review by Charles Burns:

These berries are thought to be one of the one of the healthiest natural foods. There are many “stories” about the amazing benefits of these berries, many of which may be true, but a few verifiable facts about them (in dried form) follow:

1) High protein (about 12%), and are a complete protein. This is good for anybody, but particularly noteworthy to vegans, who choose not to get their protein from meats.

2) Decent fiber content (about 10%)

3) 18 (!!) amino acids

4) Like most sweet fruits, high in carbs and calories. 100 grams give you about 350-380 calories; roughly 3/4 from carbs and 1/4 from fat.

5) 6 vitamins, 8 amino acids, 11+ minerals (more in trace amounts)

6) Carotenoids, unsaturated fatty acids (this is a good thing), phytosterols (help lower cholesterol), and other healthy (or theoretically healthy but not particularly well researched) phytochemicals.

Enough with the technical jargon. These berries are great in cereal, smoothies (once hydrated), and tea. For tea, try this:

Put water, a small number of berries (6-15ish) and a teabag in your cup, microwave for about a minute per teacup (time varies), drop a small amount in your favorite tea along with the teabag and let the berries and tea steep for about 3 minutes.

This adds a subtle character to green tea (plus an unusual, tasty snack to do with a few of the sips). The flavor seems to blend well with chai and jasmine too. This may work differently for those who use creamer.

I recommend that you try a bag, keeping in mind that you may need to soak the berries in water/tea/whatever in order to make them soft, and see what you think. I have found they make a great addition to my usual cereal-only breakfast because they give me a much-needed protein boost.

If you like them quite a lot, you may want to take the time to look for a supply in a nearby Asian foods store. I have heard they can be purchased at a lower cost in bulk.

Review by E. Gomez:

Having consumed Himalania Goji Berries for over one year, the Navitas Naturals Goji Berry is a great addition to the exotic food market. The Navitas Goji is harder and drier than the Himalania Goji, but the flavor is much sweeter and better tasting.

I love the fact that they’re raw, vegan, sun-dried, and free of chemicals and pesticides! Goji berries are believed to strengthen the immune system, increase energy and reduce fatigue, and reduce the threat of free radicals (due to HIGH levels of antioxidants). Gojis have highest ORAC score to date! The ORAC scale is a standardized test used to measure the total antioxidant potency of foods and nutritional supplements.

Definitely, one of my favorite foods!

Review by A. Black:

I was so excited to get a good deal on raw gogi berries. They are usually a lb or more. I have tried them several times before and they were always quite chewy, like raisins, but less plump. The goji berries I have eaten in the past were also raw with no additives(unlike the mass marketed kind with sugar and oil added), so I expected these to be the same. These actually crack and turn to powder when you crush them with your fingers. I tried soaking them, but they just taste like waterlogged, goji-flavored bark. I wanted to return them, but the return info says food items must be returned unopened. I am pretty disappointed in the texture of these goji berries. The expiration date indicates they are fresh (one full year before expiration). I guess I will just grind them up to make powder to add to smoothies and raw chocolate recipes. In the future, however, I will pay the extra money for the chewy goji berries, which taste great on their own and in recipes. The ones I bought here have OK flavor, but they are just so dry. A friend suggested i soak them and try dehydrating them again. I don’t know if i want to bother with that, or if it will even work. the good news is that because they are so dry, the 10 lb bag is pretty big. I imagine that it would take fewer goji berries to make 10 lbs if they were more chewy. Also, this product is much more expensive elsewhere, even when purchased wholesale with a huge minimum order, so if you don’t mind dry berries, this is an inexpensive way to get all the benefits of goji berries. Plus, i didn’t have to pay shipping with Amazon Prime. That’s a huge savings.

The raw cacao powder I bought on Amazon, also from Nativas, was quite good.Navitas Naturals Raw Chocolate Powder, Organic, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2) I highly recommend it. I also bought raw agave nectar (2x 46 oz raw) here, and it is excellent.Madhava Organic Raw Agave Nectar, 46-Ounce Bottle (Pack of 2)

Review by Charles Burns:

These berries are thought to be one of the one of the healthiest natural foods. There are many “stories” about the amazing benefits of these berries, many of which may be true, but a few verifiable facts about them (in dried form) follow:

1) High protein (about 12%), and are a complete protein. This is good for anybody, but particularly noteworthy to vegans, who choose not to get their protein from meats.

2) Decent fiber content (about 10%)

3) 18 (!!) amino acids

4) Like most sweet fruits, high in carbs and calories. 100 grams give you about 350-380 calories; roughly 3/4 from carbs and 1/4 from fat.

5) 6 vitamins, 8 amino acids, 11+ minerals (more in trace amounts)

6) Carotenoids, unsaturated fatty acids (this is a good thing), phytosterols (help lower cholesterol), and other healthy (or theoretically healthy but not particularly well researched) phytochemicals.

Enough with the technical jargon. These berries are great in cereal, smoothies (once hydrated), and tea. For tea, try this:

Put water, a small number of berries (6-15ish) and a teabag in your cup, microwave for about a minute per teacup (time varies), drop a small amount in your favorite tea along with the teabag and let the berries and tea steep for about 3 minutes.

This adds a subtle character to green tea (plus an unusual, tasty snack to do with a few of the sips). The flavor seems to blend well with chai and jasmine too. This may work differently for those who use creamer.

Of note:

- If you let them soak for too long (more than about 5-10 minutes) they get mushy and lose their texture and flavor.

- If you do not soak them long enough, they can feel a little bit gritty. I think this is due to the seeds. I don’t mind it myself, but some might.

I recommend that you try a bag, keeping in mind that you may need to soak the berries in water/tea/whatever in order to make them soft, and see what you think. I have found they make a great addition to my usual cereal-only breakfast because they give me a much-needed protein boost.

If you like them quite a lot, you may want to take the time to look for a supply in a nearby Asian foods store. I have heard they can be purchased at a lower cost in bulk.

The reviewer that reported these are “gross” may have received something from a bad batch. I think they have a nice cranberry/raisin-ish flavor and have almost no noticeable odor (and the odor isn’t an unpleasant one to me).

Review by Another Brick in the Wall:

I ordered these from Amazon to give them a try. I was very pleased.

They taste good just plain — dried cherries or cranberries is the closest comarisson I can think of, but the Goji is a bit pinker and larger, more like a berry. They are slightly sweet but not sticky. I’m sure they’d be great in pancackes, trailmix or ice cream too.

They are low calorie and have good vitamins, plus some fiber and protein.

It’s like having the culuture of the Tibetan mountains shipped to you.

Very good stuff.

Review by J. Thompson:

I ordered these because they were among the less expensive brands carried on Amazon, and they are great! They are very tasty and moist. I use about two tablespoons of these every morning in my oatmeal instead of raisins. I’ve noticed that on the days I eat them, my stomach feels a little more “settled.” I’m not sure why that would be, but it’s definitely a noticeable difference for me. It also makes the oatmeal a good deal more interesting!

The picture of the packaging is accurate – they arrive in a paper bag, with an inner heavy plastic bag that to me appears as if it would keep them fresh for a long time. The bag inside is not a resealable plastic bag, so I recommend removing the berries and putting them in an airtight container in the fridge once opened.

Highly recommended!

Review by Marcin Jeske:

First, goji berries in general – they are chewy, small, dried up berries with a bittersweet taste that is strange but addictive. Inside are tiny yellow seeds. The after taste reminds me of some asian teas (turns out these berries are used in some tea mixtures) or soy (although that could be because I often eat them in soy milk).

Uses: I throw a tablespoon or two mainly into cereal or on a salad. Occasionally I add them to meat dishes (where you might use raisins) or eat a few berries on their own. Others use them in trail mix and smoothies.

Their taste (not to mention price) means you will not want to consume more than a few tablespoons at a time.

This is the third brand of Goji berries I have tried, and I am now done with the first pound and starting on the second pound. I chose the “Tibet Authentic” brand because they were slightly cheaper than the previous price leader on Amazon Extreme Health, Michele’s Wild Tibetan Goji Berries, 16-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2).

I had some reservations because the reviews for the smaller Tibetan Authentic packages Tibet Authentic Goji Berries, 8-Ounce Bag (Pack of 3) were pretty harsh, complaining of poor quality berries and congealed masses that were hard to separate.

Having now opened both packages, I can say that I cannot differentiate the quality of berries from Michele’s and Authentic. As for the berries sticking together, it is possible that Authentic berries were a bit harder to separate, but nothing some shaking and prodding didn’t solve.

The one obvious error, and the main reason I took off one star, was that the inner plastic bags are not re-sealable (Michele’s are, as were the first brand I tried – Navitas) and keeping the inner bag inside the outer bag is inconvenient. I keep my Goji berries at room temperature (in another review, one guy had pretty bad experience with refrigerating his Gojis) and it seems that my pace of consumption was quick enough that having them in an open plastic bag worked… but I would have preferred a sealed bag with a Ziploc.

Review by Dizzy:

I bought these berries as I needed to add something to my cart for super saver shipping. I was planning to get goji berries from Whole Foods in bulk, the cheapest source by me for organic gojis in town. They run about a pound there. I got them on sale here for -12. I liked the ones from Whole Foods, but these are even better! They are fresher, probably since they are put reasonably quickly into the bags and sealed. The other ones taste like some sort of gummy fruit rolll-up type treat (good), but these actually taste like a fruit. You should buy some. The only problem is that I eat them too quickly, they should be called wolf-them-down-berry.

Review by Norman P. Nader:

I’ve had 3 bags of these now, and enjoyed the taste combination so much i bought my own goji berries and raw cashews to do a mix for myself (as less cost, of course). This is also good, but the cacao nibs add a great touch as well. Definitely a good product, but for me a bit expensive to eat too often.

Review by Amanda:

As a Nutrition & Style Consultant ([...]), I love each individual item in this product. I am constantly mixing various “super foods” and this made it really easy for me to have a pre-made mix of a few of my favorites.

Amanda