Boxthorn Seeds

Also known as “wolf-berries, ” these tiny, red, raisinlike dried fruits of the boxthorn shrub have a faint, mildly sweet flavor and are generally used for stocks and in soups. Because the Chinese believe these fruits are restorative and contribute to eye health, they are available not only in groceries, but also in herbal shops. The shrub itself is useful as well. Its leaves are added to stir-fries and soups or are scrambled with eggs, and its twigs are used to make soups or infusions that are believed beneficial to bone strength in the elderly.