Asian Pear and Goji Berry Tea

Herbal tea, fruit tea, liang te, chai, aromatica . . . These are all names for a brew of fruit and/ or herbs you can drink hot on a cold day and cold on a warm day.

There’s nothing more comforting than getting cosy on your Lazy Lounge Sofa with a book in one hand or a good movie and a cup of tea in the other.

One of my favourites is the Asian Pear and Goji Berry tea. It’s especially good when you have a cough or sore throat as it helps soothe your throat. An added bonus is that unlike cough mixtures or awful lozenges, this tastes yummy.

Asian pears are a source of potassium, fiber, vitamin C and K and copper. They are sweet and crisp and can be found in major supermarkets and Asian stores throughout Ontario. Asian pears generally come in three varieties. The ones on the right being the most common ones found in Canada. My favourite is the first one though as I think it has the best flavour and sweetness of all three. It is also the cutest as it has a pink tinge to it which looks like its blushing. Unfortunately, it tends to be really expensive in Canada. For cooking purposes, the one on the bottom right is probably the best as it’s easy to find in most stores and usually really affordable (around $1 – $1.50 per pound or less on average depending on where you get them).

Considered both a fruit and a herb, goji berries are also called wolfberries, which I think is a much cooler name for the little red fruit. Low in calories and high in fiber, they can be used for teas, soups (dessert and savoury) or eaten raw as a snack.

According to Toronto based health and nutrition expert Rosanna Lee, these little berries are an excellent source of antioxidants.

Goji berries are full of beta-carotene which helps promote healthy skin. They are high in vitamin C and can boost the immune system and aid in recovery from a cold.

Many Asians use the little berries in soups, desserts and teas as they are believed to be good for eye health.

However, goji berries may cause a negative reaction in people using blood thinners or taking diabetic medication. So, if you’re one of those people, please check with your doctor first.

Ingredients:

1 Asian Pear peeled and cut into cubes

1 tbsp Goji Berries

Honey or sugar

Makes around 3 – 4 cups

Preparation:

1. Peel and cut Asian Pear into cubes.

2. Place in pot with Goji Berries and around 5 cups water.

3. Boil till the fruit is soft and liquid is brown (maple syrup like) in colour.

4. Add honey or sugar to taste.

5. Enjoy warm with your book or movie or refrigerate for a cool, refreshing drink later.