Black Goji Berry and Black Mulberry Tea

Why people make this tea

Black goji berries have become one of the most talked-about ingredients in Chinese wellness circles in recent years — and with some justification. Unlike the familiar red goji berry, the black variety (Lycium ruthenicum) contains very high levels of anthocyanins, the same family of plant pigments responsible for the deep colour of blueberries and blackcurrants, and which are associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Pairing them with dried black mulberries — another anthocyanin-rich fruit with a long history in Chinese herbal use — creates a tea that turns a striking purple-blue in the cup and has a pleasantly sweet, slightly tangy taste. In the traditional framework, both fruits are closely linked to the liver and kidneys, and by extension to the health of the eyes, the blood, and the capacity to sleep soundly.