At one stage, you would have struggled to find goji berries in the supermarket and would have needed to source them from a specialist exotic store. Thankfully, today that is no longer the case, and they can be found widely in most good grocery stores as well as online. But as the availability of goji berries has grown to meet rising demand, it has become more difficult to tell when you are buying a high-quality product. Here are some tips to help you determine the quality of your goji berries. 

How to determine the quality of goji berries 

Their origin

Although goji berries are now cultivated in the US and in some European countries, the best goji berries still come from Asia, specifically China. The soil quality, climate, and growing techniques used in China’s ancient growing regions produce the tastiest goji berries, which have yet to be matched by berries grown in the US or elsewhere. 

Their color

Natural goji berries are a dark red color. If your goji berries look too bright or pink, then they may have been artificially colored or treated with sulfur dioxide. Although neither of these treatments will cause you any harm, they can affect the goji berries flavor, and so many people prefer to seek natural berries where possible. 

Their taste

Lastly, you can always tell a quality goji berry by its taste. A good goji berry should be slightly sweet and never bitter. If your goji berries taste too sweet, then they may have been dried with added sugar. 

Where to buy high-quality goji berries

Now that you know the signs of a quality goji berry, it’s time to get your hands on some. Here are a few of the best places to buy high-quality goji berries. 

Whole Foods Market

When it comes to buying goji berries from the grocery store, you can’t beat those purchased from Whole Foods. Whole Foods only stock the very best products and tend to avoid goji berries that have been artificially colored or sweetened. The only downside to sourcing your goji berries from Whole Foods is that you will be paying a premium price, which can make them unaffordable for many people. 

Ayoub’s Dried Fruit and Nuts

If you hadn’t guessed it already from our name, here at Ayoub’s, we specialize in sourcing only the very best quality dried fruits, including goji berries. To guarantee our customers the best quality and tastiest goji berries, we source them exclusively from the birthplace of Goji berries - Asia, and never use berries that have been artificially died or flavored. 

Farmer’s markets 

Last but not least, if you want to try goji berries that have been locally grown, then the best place to source them is always a farmer’s market. Farmer’s markets are particularly great if you are looking for fresh local goji’s, and you’ll be directly supporting the grower. 

So there you have it - a quick guide to determining the quality of a goji berry and where you can find them.