Goji

Lycium barbarum, perennial to Zone 4. Legendary superfood of Tibetan monks; widely cultivated in the Ningxia province of China; originally brought to USA by railroad workers in 1880's. Juice now sells for $20/liter and small amounts are used in Mountain Dew Goji-Strawberry. Berries very small; taste intermediate between a bell pepper and a currant; bitter when underripe. Tiny seeds resemble eggplant seed in shape. Source: naturalized population in Gainesville, Missouri. $8 for live plants.