Jujube Fruit Red (Da Zao)

Botanical Name: Ziziphus jujuba

Common Name:

• English: Jujube
• Ayurvedic: Badar, Kola
• Unani: Ber
• Also, known as:  Annab, Bayear, Ber, Black date, Borehannu, Borakoli, Brustbeeren, Chinese date, Chinese jujube, Common jujube, da t’sao, Hei zao, Hong zao, Jujube, Jujube date, Jujube plum, Kamkamber, Koli, Kola, Kul, Narkolikul, Narkoikul, Natsume, Onnab, Kul Vadar, Vadar, Vadai, Bor, Desi Ber, Lanta, Lantakura, Borakali, Phud sa chin, Red date, regi, spine date, unnab, vadai, vadar, vagari, zao, Indian Jujube, Common Jujube, Handai, Badari, Regi, and Ilandai, Korean date

Habitat: Southeast Asia

Origin: China

Harvested: Cultivated

Parts Used: Fruit                                                                 

General Information:

Ziziphus jujube, a small, evergreen sub-deciduous tree or large shrub, typically matures over time to 15-30' tall, spines in groups of two, one straight, up to 2-3 cm long and one curved, wild and also extensively cultivated throughout the country and found in Himalayan region up to about 1400 m. Each leaf has two sharp stipular spines. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, oval-lanceolate, 2-6 cm long,1-3 cm wide and are glossy green with finely toothed margins. Apex slightly obtuse; base oblique; margin closely serrulate, with three veins. Leaves turn yellow in fall. Non-showy, white to yellowish-green flowers is fragrant. Flowers bloom in the leaf axils from late spring to early summer. The flowers are perfect, 7-9 in each cluster; calyx with cupuliform tube and five segments; five petals, yellow; disk lining the calyx tube; stamens five; ovary depressed into the disk. Fruits are fleshy drupes, ovoid or oblong, 2-4 cm long, dark reddish-brown when ripe. The fruit is a round to elongate drupe of varying size, but typically to 1-1.5 inch long with a single stone within. When maturing from green to red, each smooth-skinned fruit has a sweet, crisp flesh somewhat reminiscent of an apple. After maturing to red to reddish-brown, the fruits wrinkle and take on the appearance of date, hence the alternate common name of Chinese date for this plant.

Ziziphus jujube is a traditional herb with a long history of use for nutrition and the treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases. The mature fruit is red to purplish-black in color, resembling small dates, and in China are known as the date or red date. The dried fruit of Z. jujuba is known in Persian cuisine as “annab.” Jujube trees grow in the arid and semiarid zones of Iran, especially in Birjand, South Khorasan province. Because of the plant's extensive utilization in food and pharmaceutical industries, production has increased sharply over the past decade. China has been the site of 90% of production in the world, as it is indigenous to China with a history of over 4,000 years.Fruits may be eaten fresh or may be dried, candied or canned. Numerous prior medicinal uses. This plant is sometimes called Ziziphus zizyphus.

How to use:   

Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water. Bring the water to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30-60 minutes. Strain and squeeze out as much as liquid as possible and enjoy!

Tips:

• You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with a bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder and or licorice root powder.

Precautions: 

You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

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This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.