Goji Berry and Red Date Tea Recipe: A Naturally Sweet Chinese Classic

A few dried fruits, a small saucepan, and a little time are enough to make a fragrant cup of goji berry and red date tea.

The red dates give the drink a mellow sweetness, while the goji berries add a gentle fruity, slightly earthy note. Served warm, it makes an inviting companion to breakfast or an afternoon pause.

For a simple starting recipe, simmer 25 grams of pitted dried Chinese red dates and 5 grams of dried red goji berries in 500 mL of water for 10–15 minutes. Strain, let it cool to a comfortable temperature, and adjust to taste.

This version uses no added sugar and contains no tea leaves, so the basic fruit infusion is naturally caffeine-free.

Goji Berry and Red Date Tea at a Glance

Recipe detail	Starting guide
Servings	Approximately 2 small cups
Preparation	About 5 minutes with ready-to-use pitted dates
Cooking	Time to reach a boil, then 10–15 minutes of simmering
Main ingredients	Dried Chinese red dates, dried red goji berries, water
Optional addition	1–2 thin slices of fresh ginger
Flavour	Mellow, fruity, gently sweet
Added sugar	None in the basic recipe

The finished volume will be less than 500 mL because some water evaporates and some is absorbed by the fruit. This is a suggested home recipe; follow any longer cooking requirements on your ingredient packaging.

Before brewing: If you take warfarin, check with your pharmacist or clinician before using goji berries. Interactions have been reported with goji products, including concentrated teas. Memorial Sloan Kettering: Lycium

Ingredients

For one small pot, gather:

• 25 g dried Chinese red dates, weighed after removing the pits

• 5 g dried red goji berries

• 500 mL fresh drinking water

• Optional: 1–2 thin slices of fresh ginger, for a little spice

Use ingredients sold for food or beverage preparation. Choose unsweetened dried fruit if you want to keep the recipe free from added sugar.

Choose Chinese Red Dates

Chinese red dates are dried jujubes, also called hong zao. They are different from palm dates such as Medjool dates.

Their size varies considerably, so weighing the prepared fruit is more reliable than counting pieces. Pre-pitted dates or plain red date slices can make preparation easier; check for remaining pit fragments.

Use Red Goji Berries

This recipe uses the familiar dried red goji berries, also called wolfberries. Check the ingredient name when shopping, as black goji berries are a different ingredient and will change the drink.

Explore our Sun-Ripened Fruits collection and use the individual product information to confirm ingredients and preparation directions.

How to Make Goji Berry and Red Date Tea

Step 1: Prepare the Fruit

Follow the cleaning directions on the packaging. If rinsing is required, rinse the fruit briefly under clean running water immediately before cooking and drain.

Remove all pits from whole red dates, then cut the flesh into halves or smaller pieces. If the dates are too firm to cut comfortably, soften them briefly in warm water first, drain, and then prepare them.

Opening the dates exposes more flesh to the water and helps the flavour develop during simmering.

Step 2: Add Everything to a Saucepan

Place the prepared dates and goji berries in a small saucepan. Add 500 mL of water and the optional ginger.

Use a pan with enough room for the liquid to bubble without spilling. A serving teapot should only go on the stove if its manufacturer specifically allows it.

Step 3: Bring to a Boil, Then Simmer

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer.

Partially cover and cook for 10–15 minutes, or longer if your ingredient instructions require it. Check occasionally and add a little hot water if the liquid level drops too far.

The fruit should soften and the liquid should develop an amber to reddish-brown colour. The shade varies with the fruit and concentration.

Step 4: Strain and Taste

Pour through a strainer into heat-safe cups or a serving pot.

Let a small portion cool before tasting. If the flavour is too concentrated, add hot water a little at a time. If it is too light, return the mixture to the saucepan with the fruit and simmer briefly again.

Taste the basic recipe before adding a sweetener. Its sweetness is usually gentle rather than dessert-like.

Adjust the Recipe to Your Taste

Change one thing at a time so you can identify the version you prefer.

What you would like	What to try
More date flavour	Cut the dates smaller or increase them slightly in the next batch
A lighter drink	Add more water after straining
A little spice	Include 1–2 thin ginger slices during cooking
Less earthy flavour	Reduce the goji berries slightly next time
A clearer cup	Strain gently without pressing the softened fruit

For a larger batch, double the fruit and water. Keep the same initial simmering time, allowing extra time for the larger volume to reach a boil, then taste before extending the cooking.

A Familiar Combination in Chinese Home Cooking

Dried jujubes appear in Chinese soups, congee, desserts, and drinks. Goji berries also feature in savoury and sweet preparations. Chinese home cook Maggie Zhu describes these uses in her introduction to jujube tea. Omnivore’s Cookbook: Chinese Jujube Tea

Household versions vary: some include ginger, while others add sugar or use different proportions of fruit. This recipe keeps the ingredient list short so you can get to know the combination.

Our Botanical Ingredient Library offers a starting point for learning about individual ingredients before trying more elaborate blends.

Serving and Storage

Serve the tea warm in small cups, or chill a freshly prepared batch for a cool drink. For chilled tea, use the cooked recipe above, then cool and refrigerate it promptly.

For leftovers, transfer the tea into clean, shallow containers so it cools quickly. Refrigerate at 4°C or below and use within 2–3 days, following Health Canada’s general guidance for cooked leftovers. Discard a batch left at room temperature for more than two hours. Health Canada: Food Safety Tips for Leftovers

Keep unused dried ingredients according to their package instructions, and use a clean, dry utensil when measuring them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is goji berry and red date tea caffeine-free?

Yes, when made only with red dates, red goji berries, water, and optional ginger. Adding green tea, black tea, or another caffeinated ingredient changes that.

Is this recipe sugar-free?

No. The basic recipe has no added sugar, but the fruit contains naturally occurring sugars, some of which enter the liquid. The exact amount varies with the ingredients and preparation.

Can I eat the fruit after brewing?

Yes, if it is food-grade, properly prepared, and cooked according to its directions. Remove all date pits and fragments. The fruit will be soft and may taste milder after simmering.

Can I make it by pouring hot water into a mug?

A mug infusion may taste lighter, especially with whole dates. Simmering is the suggested method here because it softens the fruit and develops the flavour more consistently. Follow the packaging if it specifies a particular preparation method.

Can I use fresh dates instead?

Fresh jujubes have a different texture and water content, so they are not a direct equivalent by weight. Use dried Chinese red dates for this recipe’s proportions.

Make a Small Pot Your Own

Begin with the simple fruit-and-water recipe, then decide whether you prefer it lighter, fuller, or with a little ginger.

Explore our Eastern Living guide for more ideas for bringing tea and everyday rituals into your home.

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