Also known as wolf berry, Chinese matrimony vine and goji, lycii is a member of the nightshade family, which includes tomato, eggplant, potato and tobacco.

In Asia, the bright red berries are used to flavor teas, wines and jelly, or they are used dried in soups, meat and vegetable stews and a rice porridge called conjee. As a tea, the whole berries are often combined with other herbs, such as licorice root and astragalus root.