Jujube Fruit

The Jujube fruit tree belongs to the Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae) family and produces a red fruit known as a red date in China and as a date in Korea and India. Jujube trees are well-suited to arid areas because of their hardiness, drought tolerance, and resistance to soilborne diseases and insects.

Jujube is a nutrient powerhouse, containing high levels of vitamins C, B, and A; iron; amino acids; healthy fatty acids; flavonoids; polysaccharides; potassium; calcium; zinc; and phosphorus.

It is highly valued as a medicinal herb for its antioxidant actions; it lowers blood pressure, helps manage blood sugar and weight, is low in calories and high in fiber, supports mood and cognitive function, and builds immune function and natural defense against infections and illness.

Ayurvedically, jujube is sweet, astringent, light, and oily; it balances Vata and Pitta but can aggravate Kapha in excess.

You can find this fruit either in the early fall, ether:

• Fresh: Crisp and white-fleshed, tasting like a sweet cross between an apple and a pear.

• Ripe: Turns reddish-brown and wrinkled, with a sweet flavor and a chewy texture closer to a true date.