Jujubes (Zizaphus Jujuba)
If you are here, you probably already know that Jujubes (Joo Joobs) are not the sweet lollies that many Australians ate as kids. Maybe if more Australians knew about Jujubes, which are also very sweet, we could have the next generation eating them like they do in China and much of the "East" where millions will consume Jujubes in some form
The jujube tree is mainly grown in country’s with a Mediterranean climate, warm to hot days through summer and cold and frosty winter nights which assist the fruit to set for the next season
Jujubes come in many varieties and have many different uses. Some are sweet and juicy and best eaten fresh, others dried, some candied, some smoked, some turned into wine or spirits, cakes, jams, breads and some used in medicinal preperations.
Jujubes are also known as:
- Chinese Red Dates – Mandarin Chinese - 枣/棗 (zǎo)
- Korean Date - 대추 (dae chu)
- Indian Date or Baer
- French – Pomme Surette
- Japanese - ナツメ/棗 (natsume)
- Turkish – hünnap
- Cantonese - 红枣/紅棗 (hung zou)
Jujubes have been cultivated for hundreds, even thousands of years and are very popular in China and the southern parts of Europe. There is well over a hundred varieties documented but unfortunately, most are not in Australia and a lot of work needs to be done to identify those with traits that would lend themselves to the rigerous, costly and absolutely neccessary quarantine to bring them in.