Cherry and Goji Berry Wine

Why people make this wine

When cherries are in season, they are plump, deep-red and irresistibly sweet. In traditional thinking cherries are warming and are associated with replenishing energy and easing wind-damp aches, while goji berries are a classic gentle tonic. Steeping the two in rice wine makes a fragrant, sweet little cordial that Nourilo likes to recommend to people who feel run-down, cold in the limbs, and weak through the lower back and knees.

Method

1. Remove cherry stems, wash, and drain.
2. Rinse the goji berries, give them a final rinse with cooled boiled water, then pat or air-dry.
3. Halve the cherries (keep the stones in) and put them in a clean glass jar.
4. Add the goji berries, then pour in the rice wine.
5. Seal and keep in a cool, shaded spot for 7 days. Sip one small cup a day.

Nourilo’s Tips

This wine is beautifully colored, fragrant and sweet, and is best suited to those who feel listless and yang-deficient. While cherries are in season, make a few extra bottles to keep on hand. Remember the cautions: not for people with heat signs, dry-heat cough, diabetes, or kidney disease.