Chinese date or Jujube
Jujube, or Chinese date (pinyin zǎo in Mandarin), is a small fruit produced by the common jujube tree (Ziziphus jujuba, or Ziziphus zizyphus), from the Rhamnaceae family. It originates from China, where it has been grown for over 4000 years. The Chinese dates you will find in our infusions come from Fujian.
|
|
When the fruit is young, it has a hard stone, like that found in an olive. It is green and has a similar taste and consistency to an apple. When it ripens, its colour darkens and it becomes a violet-black colour, and then withers to reach a date-like consistency and taste, hence its nickname of Chinese date. We use it in our infusions when it is completely ripe.