a miracle fruit

For 7 years I was in the tropical fruit business, bringing the best seasonal crops out of Thailand, processed in the most optimal ISO, HACCP and Kosher conditions, to get them in the most cost effective way to the end user.

Most of my products were packed and exported for bulk. Wholesalers then supply retailers, who are market stall owners, health shops, bakeries and confectionaries, muesli packers, etc...

My goal was to get the retail packs in the hands of the youngsters, offering them an alternative for unhealthy transfat loaded chips, chocolate bars (mind you...I love chocolate but only in its pure - 70-80% form ) and other cookies.

Today, I am still a firm believer of that.

Last year, I was evaluating my businesses and product range and was looking forward to tap into a new market of health foods and beverages, when I ran into some studies of the wolfberry, goji berry or Latin name Lyceum Barbarum.

In Chinese, the berries themselves are called "gouqizi" (枸杞子)


Lest did I know, I was consuming this fruit in some of the double boiled Chinese chicken soups and other recipes for some time!
My search led me to some medicinal and herbal shops here in Singapore to find finally a top quality dried version of the berry.



I soaked it in water, and started to add it to my traditional morning fruit blends. Usually, these blends consist of:
- water melon;
- papaya;
- banana;
- mango;
- blueberries;
- small spoon of grape seed extract ... and now the goji!


The last couple of days, I also added the arils of another miracle fruit: pomegranate!




With a cocktail like this, I can face the day!



Have a look at this VDO about the dried wolfberries. (I do NOT endorse the company however!)