Dried jujube fruit, also known as Chinese dates or red dates (hóng zǎo – 红枣), are a key ingredient in many Chinese recipes.They are prized for both their culinary versatility and medicinal properties.  Learn everything you need to know about these sweet, nutritious dried jujubes—from their flavor profile and health benefits to cooking applications and storage tips.Whether you’re making a nourishing soup, lightly sweet dessert, or medicinal tea, this comprehensive guide will show you how to use them in your cooking!  What are Jujubes? Jujubes (pronounced “joo-joo-bes”), also known as Chinese red dates, are small red fruits that grow on deciduous shrubs or small trees native to southern Asia.  When fresh, they’re crisp like an apple, with a mild, sweet flavor.

(Watch out for the pit in the middle!) However, they’re most commonly used in their dried form in Chinese cooking, having developed a chewy texture and a deep, caramel-like sweetness reminiscent of dates.  Sometimes, well-stocked Chinese markets carry fresh jujube fruit when in season—in late summer to early fall.The color of the fresh fruit ranges from green to a mix of green and reddish brown.Image credit: GrubmarketThey turn red as they ripen on the tree.

Once ripened and dried, the skin on the fruit are deep red, shiny, and wrinkly.  At this stage, they have a very long shelf life in a sealed container stored in a cool, dry place—up to 1 year, or perhaps even a f

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