Zanhuang Jujube

Zanhuang Jujube

　　As the only "natural triploid" variety among jujubes, Zanhuang Jujube has long been renowned for being highly nutritious, large in size, and containing up to 62% sugar. The fruit is purplish-red, and when broken apart by hand, it can yield sticky honey-like threads a foot long without breaking. It has a small pit, fine and crisp flesh, thick meat, sweet taste, and is easy to store and transport. It is a famous specialty of Zanhuang County in Hebei Province and has long been known as the "Hometown of Chinese Jujubes."

　　　　In 1956, it was rated the best jujube in China at the Changsha Jujube Evaluation Conference. Zanhuang Jujube has been registered under the brand name “Golden Thread” with the National Trademark Office. In 1994, it won the Gold Award at the First National Forestry Expo, and in 1997, it received the titles of Famous Brand Product at the Third National Agricultural Expo and the First Hebei Provincial Agricultural Expo. Zanhuang County has been designated by Hebei Province as a jujube production base. Zanhuang Golden Thread Jujube is sold throughout China, as well as in Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, the United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia, and enjoys strong popularity and competitiveness in both the Canton Fair and the Hong Kong market.

　　　　The soil in the Taihang Mountain geological fracture zone is rich in trace elements such as selenium and strontium. The area features a warm temperate semi-humid monsoon continental climate with distinct seasons throughout the year. The unique variety and special geological environment contribute to the premium quality of Zanhuang Jujube. The sugar content ranges from 62% to 70%, and every 100 grams of fresh jujube contains 300 to 600 milligrams of vitamins. The vitamin C content is 100 times that of apples and peaches, and 15 times that of kiwifruit, earning it the title of “Natural King of Vitamins.”

　　　　Zanhuang Jujube has long been known for its large size and high sugar content. The fruit is purplish-red, with fine and crisp flesh, sweet taste, small pit, thick meat, and excellent storage and transport durability. When broken apart by hand, it can yield sticky honey-like threads a foot long without breaking, with a sugar content as high as 62%. It is extremely nutritious. It can be eaten fresh or processed into various foods such as jade jujube, candied jujube, dark jujube, jujube paste, wine-soaked jujube, jujube powder, and canned products. It is also commonly used as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Zanhuang Jujube trees produce abundant flowers over a long flowering period with rich nectar, making them an excellent source of high-quality honey and holding significant economic value.

　　　　Zanhuang County enjoys the reputation of being the “Hometown of Chinese Jujubes,” and its specialty, Zanhuang Jujube, is known as “seven to a foot, ten to a pound.” Also called Zanhuang Golden Thread Jujube, it is produced in Zanhuang County, mainly concentrated in areas such as Yangze, Yuantou, Yanhuasi, Mayu, Qinghe, and Huji’an. In 1985, Zanhuang County had 2.165 million jujube trees, yielding 3.035 million kilograms of jujubes.

　　　　In recent years, the county has continuously promoted standardized management practices, establishing standardized jujube planting demonstration zones, and guiding jujube farmers toward pollution-free and green food cultivation methods. Especially in Dayidao Village, Yangze Township, the county has developed a 150-acre jujube orchard on the basis of a pollution-free jujube production base. The orchard strictly adheres to the specifications of the Organic Food Development Center of the State Environmental Protection Administration for production management, using uniformly approved organic production materials, and completely avoids any chemical synthetic pesticides and fertilizers during the entire jujube production process. In 2008, the jujube production received organic product certification from the State Environmental Protection Administration.

　　Origin of Zanhuang Jujube Variety: Primarily produced in Zanhuang, Hebei. It is the main local cultivar, with over 400 years of cultivation history in Zanhuang.

　　Fruit Characteristics: The fruit is oblong or obovate. The average fruit weight is 17.3 grams, with a maximum of 29 grams, and the size is uniform. The stem cavity is small and moderately deep. The ring cavity is narrow and relatively deep. The fruit surface is broadly round, slightly indented at the top. The skin is smooth. The rind is dark reddish-brown with poor gloss but good toughness, and does not crack. The flesh is nearly white, dense and fine-textured, with moderate juice content, sweet with a slight sourness, containing 30.5% soluble solids, a 96.0% edible rate, and a 47.8% drying rate. For fresh consumption, the flavor is above average; dried jujubes have a plump shape, good elasticity, excellent storage and transport qualities, and superior quality. The pit is spindle-shaped and seedless. In the production area, the fruit matures and is harvested in late September, with a fruit growth period of about 100 days.

　　Cultivation Characteristics: The tree is relatively tall with a canopy often in a natural round-headed shape. The tree vigor is strong, with weaker branching ability but strong single-axis extension growth and relatively sparse leaves and branches. The jujube fruiting branch is cylindrical and can bear fruit for around 10 years. Grafted trees begin bearing fruit in the second year, with high and stable yields. The tree adapts well, tolerates poor soil and drought, and is light-demanding. It performs well in southern Xinjiang, where both yield and quality surpass those of the origin area. In rainy areas with poor sunlight south of the Huai River, yields are low, fruit rot is severe, and there is no cultivation value. Propagation is mostly done through root suckers.

　　Jujubes are rich in nutrients and hailed as the “king of fruits” and the “king of natural vitamins.” A local Zanhuang proverb says, “Eat three jujubes a day, and you’ll stay young at a hundred.” The Ming Dynasty text *Du Yi Lu* records that during the reign of Emperor Wuzong of Tang, Prime Minister Li Deyu (a native of Zanhuang) once served the emperor with a jujube-flavored soup. Its effects in strengthening the body and delaying aging were remarkable. As a result, Zanhuang Jujube won great favor with the emperor.