Jujube - Definition and Overview

Jujube, Chinese Date, or Tsao(棗) is a small deciduous tree or shrub in the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). Its scientific name is Ziziphus zizyphus, synonym Z. jujuba. It originated in China, where it has been grown for over 4,000 years. The tree can reach a height of 5-12 m, is ornamental, with shiny-green leaves, and sometimes thorns. The many inconspicuous flowers are small, greenish or white, and produce an olive-sized fruit that is a drupe.

The early-picked fruit is smooth-green, and resembles the consistency and taste of an apple, but as it matures more, the color darkens to purplish-black and it becomes quite wrinkled, when it tastes like a date, hence the name Chinese date. There is a single hard stone, similar to an olive pit.

The tree tolerates a wide range of temperatures, though it requires hot summers for good fruiting. Unlike most of the other species in the genus, it tolerates fairly cold winters, surviving temperatures down to about -15°C.

Other species

The genus Ziziphus contains in all about 40 species distributed in the warm-temperate and subtropical parts of the Old World. All have similar edible fruit; other species grown for the fruit include Z. spinachristi from southwest Asia, Z. lotus from the Mediterranean region, and Z. mauretanica from west Africa east to India.

In mythology

The mythological lotus tree is thought to have been a variety of jujube or date.

Reference

Fruits in Warm Climates. J. F. Morton, Miami, FL: 1987.