Up until about ten years ago very few people living in the Western World would have even heard of the goji berry. Today it has cult status.

Native to the Himalayan Mountains of Tibet and Mongolia, the goji is from the same plant family as chillis, tomotoes, eggplants, peppercorns and tobacco. A small but plump, bright red berry, it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.

Like so many other exotic fruits that have found their way into the western diet, the goji berry is termed a superfood. It’s high in antioxidants, amino acids, vitamin c, fibre, protein, iron, beta-carotene, calcium, zinc and a host of other trace minerals. Eaten dried, the goji berry is highly nutritional. It also has natural anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Don’t worry; I’m not going to go on about the numerous health benefits of the goji berry, which are scientifically unproven and overly faddish. I’ve been snacking on them and I’m not expecting miracles. I just think they’re delicious.

I’m sure you’re wondering where all this is going given this is a cocktail blog. Well…

FAIR GOJI LIQUEUR

In my search for a red liqueur to create some fancy valentines cocktails, I stumbled across FAIR Goji Liqueur – a deliciously sweet berry liqueur that is cherry on the nose and tastes like goji, cherry, plum and cranberry.

Then I found out that in commercial circles goji berries are nicknamed red diamonds – how fabulously fitting for Valentines!

That fact that FAIR Goji Liqueur is also produced using fair trade certified ingredients made it even more attractive to me. My conscience is clear and I’m sharing the love around for Valentines Day ♡ ♡ ♡

Valentines Cocktails

Red Diamonds

For her…

Ingredients

• 30 ml FAIR Goji Liqueur
• 30 ml cranberry juice
• Squeeze of lime
• Premium Cuvee Rose
• Garnish: sugar rim (see note) and strawberry fruit strap

Method

Add ice, FAIR Goji Liqueur, cranberry juice and squeeze of lime to shaker. Shake to chill. Strain into coupe glass with sugar rim. Top with Premium Cuvee Rose. Garnish with fruit strap shaped into a heart on cocktail pick,

Note: for sugar rim, run lime wedge around the rim of the glass then turn glass upside down in a plate of sugar

Heart to Heart

For him…

Ingredients

• 20ml FAIR Goji Liqueur
• 20ml bourbon
• 20ml dry vermouth
• Drop orange bitters
• Large ice cube (with or without rose bud)

Method

Add FAIR Goji Liqueur, bourbon and dry vermouth to cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into lowball glass over a large ice cube to serve. Add a drop of bitters. Garnish with maraschino cherry as an alternative to the rose bud in the ice cube.

Cheers Lovers!

FAIR Goji Liqueur is available through the Dan Murphy’s online store.