Black Raisin & Goji Berry Tea

Why people make this tea

As grape juice dries into a raisin, most of the water evaporates but the concentrated nutrients remain. A hundred grams of raisins contain roughly 2.8 mg of iron and 768 mg of potassium — making them a convenient, naturally sweet way to top up these two minerals. In Chinese food therapy, grape is considered to tonify yin, nourish the spleen and stomach, build energy, and calm the mind. The black-skinned varieties are especially valued because they contain anthocyanins — the same pigments behind the brain-health reputation of blueberries and black wolfberry. Goji berry is one of the most widely used food-herbs in Chinese medicine: associated with nourishing liver and kidney yin, brightening the eyes, improving memory, and regulating the nervous system. Together, these two make a tea that is pleasant to drink every day and gently supportive of brain health and complexion.

Method

1. Place the black raisins and goji berries into a teapot or mug.
2. Pour in a small amount of boiling water to rinse; discard.
3. Pour in fresh boiling water and steep for 10 minutes.
4. Drink the tea and eat the raisins and goji berries — consuming the solids maximises the nutritional benefit.
5. For maximum flavour without eating the solids, simmer the raisins and goji in water for 20 minutes instead.

Nourilo’s Tips

Black raisins are available at most supermarkets and dried-fruit or snack shops. American varieties tend to be plumper. For a particularly effective skin-brightening approach, try soaking the black raisins in apple-cider vinegar overnight (about 1 tablespoon at a time) and eating the soaked raisins. The vinegar-soaked version has a stronger complexion-brightening effect, though the sharp acidic taste may not be for everyone — Nourilo personally finds it quite pungent! For people specifically looking to address nervous exhaustion (neurasthenia), drink this tea consistently for 7–10 days.