Tongbai Jujube

Tongbai Jujube

　　 Tongbai Jujube is produced in Nanyang City, Henan Province. It is a bud mutation of the common jujube, discovered and officially named in 1983. This variety features large fruit with small pits, thick flesh and thin skin, bright red color, and a crisp, sweet, and juicy taste. The average single fruit weighs 52 grams, with the largest reaching up to 89 grams. The fresh fruit contains 32.26% sugar, and each 100 grams of fresh jujube contains 442.3 mg of vitamin C and 2385 mg of vitamin P (rutin), ranking first among all fruits. It is also rich in protein, crude fiber, and other nutrients. Tongbai Jujube has health benefits such as nourishing the heart and lungs, harmonizing the spleen and stomach, invigorating qi and promoting fluid production, enriching blood, and beautifying the complexion. Regular consumption can help maintain a healthy body and promote longevity. In October 1983, experts in Beijing rated Tongbai Jujube as China’s top-quality jujube due to its large size and excellent quality, and it was included in the first category of the "China Jujube Records." In September 1995, Tongbai Jujube won the Gold Award at the "China Science and Technology Quality Products Exhibition," and in 1996, it was designated as one of the 100 new achievements promoted by the National Forestry Department. Currently, Tongbai Jujube has been widely introduced and cultivated in regions such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong, and Zhejiang. (Nanyang)

　　Tongbai Jujube is a specialty of the Tongbai Mountains. It was discovered during a resource survey in 1982, and in 1983, it was identified as a newly discovered superior variety by experts at the Changsha Fruit Tree Conference. It was then included in the first category of the "China Jujube Records" and officially named Tongbai Jujube. After more than ten years of cultivation, it won the Gold Award at the Henan Provincial Food Expo in 1994, the Excellence Award at the Ministry of Agriculture Horticultural Expo and the Gold Award at the National Science and Technology Quality Products Expo in 1995. It is truly a rising star among fruits and a precious variety of jujube, and has been listed in the Ministry of Agriculture's "High-Quality, High-Yield, High-Efficiency" promotion project.

　　Tongbai Jujube trees are short in stature, with short internodes and thick, robust branches that grow vigorously. They exhibit strong resistance to jujube rust and jujube witches' broom disease. Grafting can be performed in spring, summer, or autumn. The trees are drought-tolerant, waterlogging-resistant, easy to plant and manage, require low investment, and can live for over 200 years. It is an excellent tree species that yields quick returns, high profits, and long-term benefits, making it a top choice for farmers seeking to escape poverty and achieve prosperity. It is now being actively demonstrated and promoted in key areas of Henan, Hubei, and Anhui.

　　Tongbai Jujube is large in size and early-bearing with high yields: the average fresh weight of a single fruit is generally over 40 grams, with some reaching 50–70 grams, ranking it among the top large jujube varieties in the province and beyond. It is hailed as the “King of Jujubes,” and referred to as “Da Wang Zao” or “Da Wan Zao” in Nanyang City. Tongbai Jujube bears fruit in the same year it is grafted, enters its peak fruiting period after three years, and can yield 8–10 kg per tree. It has multiple flowering cycles and strong fruit-setting ability.

　　Tongbai Jujube is a fresh-eating variety. Due to its relatively late ripening period—usually in October—it accumulates abundant nutrients and offers excellent quality. With thin skin, thick flesh, small pits, and a crisp, sweet, and juicy taste, it is delicious and appealing. The fruit peel is dark red, does not crack, and is relatively resistant to storage and transport, making it highly popular with consumers. When baked or processed into canned products, its flavor is even more exceptional, yielding very attractive economic returns.

　　In addition to the general benefits of nourishing the spleen, promoting fluid production, and invigorating blood and the spleen typical of jujubes, Tongbai Jujube is truly a woody grain crop that serves both as food and medicine. It is suitable for people of all ages and can be enjoyed all year round. Analysis shows that Tongbai Jujube is especially rich in nutrition. The edible portion of dried jujubes accounts for 89–95% of the total yield. Each 100 grams of jujube contains 1.2–3.3 grams of protein, 103–309 kcal of energy, 41–61 mg of calcium, and 300–500 mg of other minerals, ranking first among varieties in Henan and about 70 times higher than apples, pears, and peaches. Regular consumption can significantly enhance the body’s immune function, promote metabolism, lower serum cholesterol, increase serum protein and albumin levels, and have beneficial therapeutic effects against cancer. It strengthens the body, prolongs life, is a green food, and is considered a premium among medicinal products.