Lycium barbarum is a deciduous woody shrub in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), best known for producing the bright red fruits commonly called goji berries or wolfberries. The genus name Lycium derives from Lycia, an ancient region of Anatolia, from which related thorny shrubs were first described in classical sources. The species epithet barbarum comes from Latin barbarus, meaning “foreign” or “strange". The plant is native to East Asia, particularly in northwestern China, where it occupies an important place in both foodways and traditional medicine.

Historically, L. barbarum was integrated into Chinese culinary–medicinal systems as both a nourishing food and a tonic ingredient, frequently combined with meats, grains, and other herbs in slow-cooked preparations. In modern usage, it has become globally marketed as a “superfood,” appearing in health products and contemporary cuisines while remaining a traditional ingredient in Chinese soups, herbal teas, and medicinal wines.