The first image that may jump into your mind when you hear the word “jujube” is that of the chewy colored candy that often gets stuck in your teeth and may have been the culprit of more than a few childhood dental woes. But real jujubes are a 4,000 year-old berry that the ancient Chinese people have been cultivating for centuries.
Sometimes referred to as Chinese, Korean or Indian dates, over 400 different varieties of these small grape to strawberry-sized fruits exist, each one unique in its own way. Jujubes grow on small deciduous trees. The fruit itself is considered a drupe since it contains one central seed or pit.
The crisp texture and tangy sweet flavor is often compared to that of an apple, though some varieties are cultivated purely for drying purposes while others are meant to be enjoyed fresh.
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