Jujube Fruit Black

Black Jujube, widely known as the Chinese Date, is a small, rounded fruit with a deep, dark skin. Dried, it is soft and chewy with a rich, date-like sweetness and a mild tang that lingers; young and fresh, the same fruit is crisp and apple-like instead.

It has ancient roots in Asian culinary and cultural traditions.

The dark, wrinkled fruit is similar in size to a small date. It can be eaten straight from the pack as a snack, and it is sold under many names, including black date, Chinese date, hei zao and annab. Black jujube has a deeper, richer flavour than the lighter red type, which makes it a good choice where a dessert or broth needs sweetness without added sugar.

How to use it

Dried jujubes are a staple of herbal infusions and traditional teas, sweetening the pot on their own. That sweetness carries into desserts, syrups and jams, and the chewy texture suits trail mixes and baked goods. In savoury cooking they lend a mellow depth to stews, rice dishes and slow-cooked broths. Halve or score the fruit before it goes into a broth so the sugars move out into the liquid.

Details

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