'Chichiquelite' is a Mexican garden berry variety originating from western Africa. The ripe dark purple/black berries are great fresh, cooked, or preserved. They're often used in pies and preserves and are usually heavily sweetened. Unripe green berries contain toxins and should not be eaten.

It's been traditionally grown for centuries and remains popular around the Chichiquelite region near Sonora Mexico where the cooked leaves are often eaten (uncooked leaves contain toxins). Vigorous plants produce large yields, are early to harvest, and require few if any inputs.

Solanum melanocerasum can be easily confused with the poisonous Solanum nigrum, or 'black nightshade'. Caution should be used to distinguish the two, especially in areas where Solanum nigrum has been introduced. The unripe berries are poisonous. However, ripe berries are often cooked with sugar for preserves or pies, though there is some debate regarding toxicity. Avoid during pregnancy.