“Golden Thread Amber Honey Dates”

“Golden Thread Amber Honey Dates”

　　These are a delicacy among honey dates in China, produced in Qizili, Sanyang, and Yingkeng areas of She County, Anhui Province. Since 1957, they have been popularly exported to over 40 countries and regions including the United States, Canada, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and India.

“Golden Thread Amber Honey Dates” are a type of preserved date made from fresh jujubes through processing. These honey dates are golden yellow like amber, with sliced lines resembling golden threads, glossy and transparent. They have thick flesh and small pits, retaining the natural fragrance of the jujube. These honey dates are rich in sugar content, with sugar making up about 70% of their weight. They also contain protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and various vitamins, especially vitamin C, which reaches levels as high as 400–600 mg per date—over 140 times more than that in an equal weight of pears. Their vitamin D content is also the highest among fruits, making them an ideal nutritious tonic. The green jujubes used to make “Golden Thread Amber Honey Dates” in She County are all selected for being white-colored, pest-free, and without red tips. The production involves eight meticulous processes: selection, slitting, slicing, pot-boiling, raw baking, pressing, final baking, and sorting. Among these, the slicing technique is the most challenging, requiring each date to be cut with 40 to 100 even slices—neither too shallow nor too deep—so that the dates cook easily, absorb sufficient sugar, and remain well-preserved over time.