Jujube

What Is Jujube?

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), also known as Chinese date, is the fruit of a small tree of the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). Originally native to East Asia, it is also grown in some regions of Turkey.

When green it has a hard, apple-like crunchy texture and a mildly sweet, low-sourness taste; once ripe and turned brown-purple, it shrivels and takes on a dry, date-like sweet character.

Nutritional Values of Jujube

100 grams of raw jujube contains approximately 79 kcal of energy, 20.2 g of carbohydrate and a notable amount of vitamin C (69 mg). Dried jujube, having lost its water content, has significantly higher energy and carbohydrate density.

What Are the Benefits of Jujube?

Jujube is a fruit long used in Far Eastern cuisine and traditional medicine; with its vitamin C content, it can be considered part of a balanced diet. It is added as a revitalizing ingredient to soups and teas in Chinese and Korean cuisine.

This information is general; jujube is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Jujube?

For fresh consumption, firm but crisp berries in the green-to-brown transition stage are preferred.

• Smooth, unwrinkled berries are considered fresher.
• When buying dried jujube, reddish-brown berries that are slightly wrinkled but free of mold spots should be chosen.
• Overly hard and woody berries may be excessively dried.

How to Store Jujube?

Fresh jujube can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days. Its dried form keeps for months without spoiling in a sealed container, in a cool, dry place; for this reason it is most often found on the market in dried form.

Using Jujube in the Kitchen

Jujube can be eaten raw when fresh, but its most common use is in dried form. It is used as a sweetening addition in teas, soups and dessert recipes.

How to Make Jujube Tea?

Dried jujube slices are boiled in boiling water for 10-15 minutes; cinnamon or ginger can be added if desired for steeping. This tea is often consumed on cold days in Far Eastern cuisines.

How Is Jujube Used in Desserts?

Dried jujube can be used similarly to raisins in dried-fruit desserts, cakes and pilafs; it adds flavor with its mildly sweet, chewy texture.

Which Recipes Use Jujube?

Jujube tea, jujube pilaf, dried-fruit cakes and some soup recipes are among the best-known uses of jujube.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are jujube and date the same fruit?

No, they are different plants. Date (Phoenix dactylifera) belongs to the palm family, while jujube is a separate tree species of the buckthorn family; although they resemble each other in appearance and taste when dried, they are botanically unrelated.

Is jujube eaten raw?

Yes, especially berries in the green-to-brown transition stage are eaten raw with an apple-like crunchy texture.

How is dried jujube consumed?

Dried jujube can be eaten directly as a snack, added to tea or soup and boiled, or used as a dried fruit in dessert and pilaf recipes.

Where does jujube grow?

Originally native to East Asia, jujube is also grown in some regions of Turkey, especially in warm and sunny climates.

Is the seed of jujube eaten?

No, the hard seed at the center of the fruit is not eaten; it is separated and discarded while chewing the fresh or dried fruit.