Chinese boxthorn, Chinese matrimony-vine
Lycium chinense

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A spiny deciduous shrub. It grows 4.5 m high. The branches are stiff, straight and unbranched. The branches have long thorns. These are where the leaves sprout from the stem. There are only a few leaves. The leaves are oval and vary between 2-6 cm long. They are dark green. The flowers are purplish. They are tube shaped and held in clusters of 1 to 4. The fruit are reddish-orange berries. They hang down. The fruit are 25 mm long.

The berries are high in carotene. Chemical composition (leafy shoots): Protein = 3.9%. Fat = 0.72%. Carbohydrate = 2.254%. Ash = 1.3%. It is high in proVitamin A. There are about 100 Lycium species. It contains 17.73 mg alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) per 100 g in the leaves.

Where it is found

A Mediterranean climate plant. It will grow in the highlands in warm tropical countries. In Indonesia it grows at about 2,000 m above sea level. Photo from Singapore. It suits hardiness zones 6-10. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Canada, China (country/location of origin), Cuba, Europe, France, Hawaii, Himalayas, Indochina, Indonesia, Inner Mongolia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Mongolia, Nepal, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Portugal, SE Asia, Singapore, Slovenia, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The berries make a sweet addition to any dish. The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. They taste like liquorice. They can be added to soups or braised dishes. They are also used for juices and fermented. The young soft leaves are eaten in salads. The leaves are cooked with pork or added to soup. Ginger, pepper and a little sugar can help counter the bitter flavour in soups. The roasted seeds are used for coffee. Dried leaves are used for tea.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. The berries are sold dry in packets. The leaves are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Leaves as condiment, spice, tea, fruit, spice, seeds - coffee, leaves - tea, vegetable, seeds - oil

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by using cuttings. They often sprout by suckers.

For leaves the tips are cut off creating a hedge. For fruit the branches are left and the fruit picked.

Its other names

Local names

Cauqui, Chinese teaplant, Chinese wolfberry, Chu chi, Daun koki, Gau gei choi, Gouqi, Gou qi cai, Gugijanamu, Holly Willow, Kaokichai, Kaukichai, Kaukichoy, Kei-chi, Kitajska kustovnica, Kou-chi, Kou-kay-choi, Kuko, Matrimony vine

Synonyms

Lycium barbarum var. chinense (Mill.) Aiton; Lycium ovatum Poir.; Lycium rhombifolium (Moench) Dippel; Lycium sinense Gren.; Lycium trewianum Roem. & Schult.;