Goji
Goji names thorny Asian shrubs in the genus Lycium and their red-orange berries, especially the fruit of Lycium barbarum.
Lycium barbarum: A thorny shrub native to Asia whose red-orange berries are widely known as goji berries. This species is the principal source of commercially recognized goji berries.
Wolfberry tea: An infusion made by steeping wolfberries, usually dried Lycium fruit, in hot water. The berries are commonly prepared as a simple drink in East Asian food traditions.
Ningxia: An autonomous region in north-central China, known for producing Lycium barbarum berries. Ningxia is a major center of goji cultivation and a source of its commercial reputation.
Physalis peruviana: A South American nightshade species that produces the golden, papery-husked fruit known as Cape gooseberry. Its bright edible berries are sometimes confused with goji in dried-fruit markets.
Lycium chinense: An East Asian shrub in the genus Lycium, cultivated for leaves and edible berries. This related species is also called goji and contributes to the name’s broader use.
Traditional Chinese medicine: A medical tradition developed in China that uses herbal remedies, acupuncture, and other practices. Lycium berries have a long history of use within this medical tradition.
Tibetan medicine: A medical tradition of Tibet and the Himalayan region, combining local practices with influences from India and China. Lycium berries also appear in medicinal traditions beyond China.
Barberry: A group of thorny shrubs in the genus Berberis, some of which bear red edible fruits. Barberry resembles goji in color and thorny growth but belongs to a different genus.
Solanaceae: The flowering-plant family that includes tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and Lycium. Goji shrubs belong to this family, despite their very different-looking fruit.
Goji cultivation: The agricultural production of Lycium shrubs and their berries for food and commerce. Commercial demand has made cultivation a major route by which goji reaches consumers.