While visiting San Francisco, we ate at the House of Nanking
restaurant at the recommendation of some friends. The food was as good
as everyone says, but we were really intrigued by the tea they served.
It had some kind of small flower/berry pods that were lightly fruity
and sweet, red and about the size of a pea. I would love to know what
they used in the tea, or if it is some kind of special tea blend, and
where I can get it. I live in Seattle and can probably find it in the
International District here if I only knew what to look for!

---

Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 06 Dec 2002 14:18 PST

Hi Jackih,

Please take a look at these pictures. Would these berries that were
used for your tea?

http://www.lucidmatrix.com/uploads/berry1.bmp

http://www.lucidmatrix.com/uploads/berry2.bmp

http://www.lucidmatrix.com/uploads/berry3.bmp

http://www.lucidmatrix.com/uploads/berry4.jpg

http://www.lucidmatrix.com/uploads/berry.bmp

They are all pictures of the same berry.

Thanks

--Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Question by jackih-ga on 06 Dec 2002 14:32 PST

berry2.bmp looks like it could be the same ones, but it has been about
a year and a half since we were there, so I can't be certain....

berry4 looks suspiciously like some berries I have growing in my
backyard....

---

Request for Question Clarification by lot-ga on 06 Dec 2002 14:39 PST

Hello jackih-ga,
I can tell you what and where to get them,
but will let bobbie7-ga follow through first.
..I'll just hang around in the background if needed :-)
Kind regards
lot-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 06 Dec 2002 14:41 PST

These berries are used in tea. If you want I can post this information
but I can´t assure you that they are the same ones youe tried since I 
have never been  to that restaurant in San Fransisco. I just
recognized the berries from your description. Where I live they sell
tea made from these berries.

---

Clarification of Question by jackih-ga on 06 Dec 2002 14:43 PST

I asked my friend who went with me if they looked the same and she
thought they did, so we'll take it as an answer :)

---

Clarification of Question by jackih-ga on 06 Dec 2002 15:06 PST

I was just reminded to clarify that it was not a tea *made* from
berries, but black tea with whole berries *in* it, if that makes it
easier.

Hello jackih-ga,

Initially, searching with the search terms “tea” and “berries”, I
found a reference to tea made with goji berries, and found that these
are also called wolfberries.  Looking further, I found that the
berries are used in a Chinese tea called eight treasure tea, and that
the Chinese name for this tea is ba bao cha, while the berries are
called Gou Ji Zi. The scientific name for the berries is Lycium
barbarum. The information I found suggests that eight treasure tea
tends to be made with green tea rather than with black tea. However, I
feel confident about the berries.

There is a recipe for eight treasure tea at
http://www.richnature.com/products/herbal/wolfberry.htm  as well as
other recipes for the berries.  This site sells the dried berries,
which can also be used for medicinal purposes.  At
http://www.richnature.com/products/herbal/wolfberryAnalysis.htm you
can see a close-up picture of the dried berries and an analysis of
what they contain.  The berries cost   $ 8.95 for 150 grams and can be
ordered here: http://www.richnature.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.100.exe/cgi-local/smpagegen.exe?U+scstore+pvjx0603ff0ad80a+-p+-c+scstore.cfg+WO0150

You can buy packs of 20 tea bags of eight treasure tea for $6.90 at
http://chinateas.virtualave.net/products.htm (this is a company based
in China)
Or, Ten Ren, based in San Francisco offers an 8-cup pack for $4 
http://www.tenren.com/eigtreastea.html

Apparently, while not native, the plant can be found in the United
States, where another name for it is matrimony vine.  The Oklahoma
Biological Survey has a description of the plant, and the places where
it likes to grow, at  http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/shrub/lyba4.htm
It is also found in the UK, where it is known as the Duke of Argyll's
Teaplant http://www.hull.ac.uk/php/ggsrm/hull_plants/solanace.htm

Here is some information about the medical properties, together with a
good picture of the growing plant
http://www.keepsmilin.com/wolfberry.html  The people who run this site
have developed a tea from these berries, but it is not the Chinese
version.  I’ve had some problem navigating this site, because not all
the links work, and have not been able to find any further information
except the contact details: KEEP SMILIN.COM, PO Box 1166, Arnold, MO
63010, 636-282-0262  FAX: 636-282-0262, Orders: 1-800-464-8272

Mmm, I think I want to get some for myself :)

---

Clarification of Answer by tehuti-ga on 06 Dec 2002 19:28 PST

Please note that 150 grams (the quantity of dried berries cited above)
is equivalent to a little under 6 oz.

Thanks to all for the great info! I will try to find these at my local
Asian market :)

Lot-ga,
I know what the berries are but if you know where to buy them or where
to buy the tea , please go ahead and answer the question.
Where I live you can buy the tea at the supermarket but I´m not so
sure where it can be bought in the States.
--Bobbie7-ga

Hi
I´m posting this as a comment as I believe then that the berry I am
thinking of is incorrect as the tea would be pinkish not black. I was
thinking of the rose hip berry. In Chile it is called Rosa Mosqueta
and they are from the central and southern part of Chile.

Rose Hip
Bright-red hard seed-pods of wild rose are used for rosehip tea.
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/goodies/flowers/
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/goodies/flowers/rosehip.jpg

http://www.wildfoodadventures.com/pab_rosa_spp_1.html

“Rose hips have been an important food for all Native tribes where any
kind of roses can be found. They are extremely high in vitamin C, much
more so than oranges, for example. Dried, they keep well, and will
always be available in winter. Most health food co-ops sell them (for
$25/lb or so, another economic opportunity for tribal youth in late
summers).”
http://www.kstrom.net/isk/food/wildrose.html

I am sure that my fellow researcher Lot-ga will post the information
you are seeking.

Best Regards,
--Bobbie7-ga

Hello jackih-ga

Additional info:

Botanical name and other associated names for the Goji Wolfberry:
“Botanical name: Lycium barbarum / Lycium chinense {fam. Solanaceae} 
Other names: Chinese Wolfberry, matrimony vine, Duke of Argyle's tea
plant, 'Gou-qi-zi' or ‘gouqizi’ (pinyin pronunciation)”
source: Swampfox 
http://www.swampfox.demon.co.uk/utlah/Articles/wolfbane.html and 
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/lycium.htm 
 
“Biological Name: Fructus Lycii  
Common Name: Barbary Wolfberry Fruit or Chinese Wolfberry 
Description of plant: 
Dry ripe fruit of Lycium barbarum.” 
source Heritage.com 
http://www.heritage.com.sg/herbalmono/prod31.htm 
 
“Pharmaceutical name: Fructus Lycii 
Latin botanical name: Lycium barbarum L.or L chinense Mill 
Pron. in Japanese: kukoshi 
Pron. in Korean: kugicha 
Pron. in Cantonese: kau kei chi 
Common Name: Chinese wolfberry fruit, lycium fruit 
Distribution: Ninxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Tibet, Inner Mongolia (L.
barbarum), Hebei (L. chinense)”
description from Alternative Healing 
http://alternativehealing.org/qi_zi.htm 

a U.S. nursery that sells the plant (so you get fresh berries)
“LYCIUM BARBARUM (MATRIMONY VINE) $8.00 
(also CHINESE WOLFBERRY or GOU-GI-ZI) A Chinese culinary and
medicinal. Used to strengthen muscles and bones, and restore "vital
essences." Also increases white blood cell count, and stimulate tissue
development. The potential of this plant in medicine should be
investigated more! A very pretty plant, whose red berries can be eaten
raw and are quite tasty. The leaves can be added to soups and stews,
and are a popular green.
Ht: 12' (4m) Sp: 10' (30m) Sun in a moist, well drained soil. -20F”  
http://www.handhbotanicals.com/2002herbs.html 
“The nursery is located at 2877 Miller Rd. Bancroft MI in conjunction
with Grand Oak Herb Farm”

Or dried berries 
San Diego based company 
 
Bulk raw herbs 
Lycii Berries - Gou Qi Zi (dried) 
8 oz. $22.00  
16 oz. $34.00  
32 oz. $44.00 
Longevity Herbs 
http://www.longevityherbs.org/herbs.html#lycii 
 
Lycii Berries Whole Gou Qi Zi (dried) 
6.00 OZ. $25.85  
Kalyx  
http://www.kalyx.com/store/proddetail.cfm?ItemID=931.0&CategoryID=1000.0&SubCatID=10.0
 
Kind regards
lot-ga