Jujube

Ziziphus zizyphus
Ziziphus zizyphus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rhamnaceae Genus: Ziziphus Species: Z. zizyphus
Binomial name
Ziziphus zizyphus (L.) H.Karst.

Jujuba.

Jujuba is the common name for the Old World tree Ziziphus zizyphus (syn. Z. jujuba, Rhamnus zizyphus) in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, which is characterized by a palmately veined leaves, small yellowish flowers, and a olive-sized fruit. Jujube also is the name for this fleshy, edible fruit of commercial importance, particularly in China. The names red date and Chinese date also are commonly applied to this tree and species.

Description

The flowering plant family to which the jujuba belongs, Rhamnaceae, the buckthorn family, is a large family of trees, shrubs, and vines, with 50-55 genera and approximately 870-900 species. The Rhamnaceae have a worldwide distribution, but are more common in the subtropical and tropical regions. The simple leaves can be either alternate and spiraling, or opposite. Stipules are present. These leaves are modified into spines in many genera, The flowers are radially symmetrical. There are 5 (sometimes 4) separate sepals and 5 (sometimes 4 or none) separate petals. The petals may be white, yellowish, greenish, pink, or blue, and are small and inconspicuous in most genera. The 5 or 4 stamens are isomerous with the petals (i.e. one stamen opposite each petal). The ovary is superior, and the fruits are mostly berries, fleshy drupes, or nuts. Some are adapted to wind carriage, but most are dispersed by mammals and birds.

The Ziziphus genus contains about 40 species of spiny shrubs and small trees, distributed in the warm-temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world. The leaves are alternate, entire, with three prominent basal veins, and 2-7 centimeters long; some species are deciduous, others evergreen. The flowers are small, inconspicuous yellow-green. The fruit is an edible drupe, yellow-brown, red, or black, globose or oblong, 1-5 centimeters long, often very sweet and sugary, reminiscent of a date in texture and flavor.

The best known species of Ziziphus is Ziziphus zizyphus, which also is listed as Ziziphus jujuba. It is a small deciduous tree or shrub reaching a height of 5-10 meters, usually with thorny branches. The leaves are shiny-green, ovate-acute, 2-7 centimeters long and 1-3 centimeters broad, with three conspicuous veins at the base, and a finely toothed margin. The flowers are small, 5 millimeters diameter, with five inconspicuous yellowish-green petals.

The jujube fruit is an edible oval drupe, 1.5 to 3 centimeters long. When immature it is smooth-green, with the consistency and taste of an apple, maturing dark red to purplish-black and eventually wrinkled, looking like a small date (hence the name "Chinese date"). There is a single hard stone, similar to an orange or a tv olive stone (Rushforth 1999).

The jubube's precise natural distribution is uncertain due to extensive cultivation, but is thought to be in southern Asia, between Syria, northern India, and southern and central China, and possibly also southeastern Europe (though more likely introduced there) (Rushforth 1999).

Nomenclature

The species has a curious nomenclatural history, due to a combination of botanical naming regulations, and variations in spelling. It was first described scientifically by Carolus Linnaeus as Rhamnus zizyphus, in Species Plantarum in 1753. Later, in 1768, Philip Miller concluded it was sufficiently distinct from Rhamnus to merit separation into a new genus, in which he named it Ziziphus jujube, using Linnaeus' species name for the genus but with a probably accidental single letter spelling difference, 'i' for 'y'; for the species name he used a different name, as tautonyms (repetition of exactly the same name in the genus and species) are not permitted in botanical naming. However, because of Miller's slightly different spelling, the combination correctly using the earliest species name (from Linnaeus) with the new genus, Ziziphus zizyphus, is not a tautonym, and therefore permitted as a botanical name; this combination was made by Hermann Karsten in 1882.

Cultivation and uses

The Jujube has been cultivated for over 4,000 years for its edible fruit, and over 400 cultivars have been selected.

The tree tolerates a wide range of temperatures and rainfall, though it requires hot summers and sufficient water for acceptable fruiting. Unlike most of the other species in the genus, it tolerates fairly cold winters, surviving temperatures down to about -15°C. This enables the jujube to grow in desert habitats, provided there is access to underground water through the summer. Virtually no temperature seems to be too high in summertime.

Many jujube trees can still be seen in the central and southern regions of Israel, especially in the Arava Valley, where it is the second most common tree. A jujube tree near Ein Hatzeva in the Arava is estimated to be over 300 years old.

Medicinal use

The fruits are used in Chinese and Korean traditional medicine, where they are believed to alleviate stress. ^{[citation needed]} The fruit is ground to powder, with very small amounts required to promptly calm nerves and purify blood quality. ^{[citation needed]} The Australian drink 1-bil makes de-stressing (or relaxing) claims on the basis of its jujube ingredient.

Ziziphin, a compound in the leaves of the jujube, suppresses the ability to perceive sweet taste in humans. The fruit, being mucilaginous, is also very soothing to the throat and decoctions of jujube have often been used in pharmacy to treat sore throats.

jujube fruit

Culinary use

Dried red jujube fruits

The freshly harvested as well as the candied dried fruits are often eaten as a snack, or with tea. They are available either red or black (called hóng zǎo or hēi zǎo, respectively, in Chinese), the latter being smoked to enhance their flavour [1]. In mainland China, Korea, and Taiwan, a sweetened tea syrup containing jujube fruits is available in glass jars,^photo and canned jujube tea or jujube tea in the form of teabags is also available. Although not widely available, jujube juice[2] and jujube vinegar^photo (called 枣醋 or 红枣醋 in Chinese) are also produced.

In China, a wine made from jujubes called hong zao jiu (红枣酒) is also produced.[3] Jujubes are sometimes preserved by storing in a jar filled with baijiu (Chinese liquor), which allows them to be kept fresh for a long time, especially through the winter. Such jujubes are called jiu zao (酒枣; literally "spirited jujube").

In addition, jujubes, often stoned, are a significant ingredient in a wide variety of Chinese delicacies. In Persian cuisine, the dried drupes are known as annab.

Other uses

The jujube's sweet smell is said to make teenagers fall in love, and as a result, in the Himalaya and Karakoram regions, men take a stem of sweet smelling jujube flowers with them or put it on their hats to attract the opposite gender.^{[citation needed]}

In traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, jujube and walnut were often placed in the newly wed's bedroom as a sign of fertility.

In Japan, the natsume has given its name to a style of tea caddy used in the Japanese tea ceremony.

In Korea, the wood is used to make the body of the taepyeongso, a double-reed wind instrument.

Pests and diseases

Witch's brooms, prevalent in China and Korea, is the main disease affecting jujubes, though plantings in North America currently are not affected by any pests or diseases.

Names in other languages

• Arabic - ennab (عنّاب) or sedr (سدر)
• Bangla: - boroi
• Chinese - zǎo (simplified: 枣; traditional: 棗; Wade-Giles: tsao; also hóng zǎo (红枣), dà zǎo (大枣), hēi zǎo (黑枣), or zǎozi 枣子)
• Gujarati: bor (બોર)
• Japanese: natsume (棗)
• Korean: daechu (대추)
• Marathi: bor (बोर)
• Persian - annab (عَنّاب)
• Thai Language - Bhud-Saar (พุทรา)
• Turkish - hünnap
• Tamil - elanthai
• Telugu - regu pandlu-(రేగుపండు)
• Vietnamese - táo tàu

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Fruits in Warm Climates. J. F. Morton, Miami, FL: 1987.
• Nutritional data for the jujube
• On the Medicinal uses of Jujube and its cultivation in Iran
• Photos of jujubes growing on trees
• Photo of a bottle of Taiwanese jujube wine
• Photo of a jar of Korean jujube tea
• Photo of a package of Korean jujube tea

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