Baode Oil Jujube

Baode Oil Jujube

　　Baode Oil Jujube: The Baode Oil Jujube is grown in natural gullies and valleys along the Yellow River. These areas enjoy strong sunlight, low rainfall, high temperatures, and very dry conditions, all of which are conducive to the growth of oil jujubes. Historical records indicate that jujube trees have been cultivated in Baode County for 1,100 years. Legend has it that when Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty passed through Baode during an inspection tour, he tasted red dates in Niánpan’er, Fengjiachuan and praised them for their rich oiliness, hence naming them “oil jujubes.”

　　The characteristics of Baode Oil Jujube are: large size, thin skin, thick flesh, small pit, juicy, sweet taste, deep red color, and glossy sheen. They contain 57.9% sugar. When dried, the fruit remains elastic and can be pulled into thin threads three to four centimeters long when broken. They are easy to store and transport. The processed oil jujubes are dark purple, glossy, large, pitless, with fine texture and rich, tender flesh, exuding a unique aroma. Fresh jujubes soaked in wine are made into “Imperial Concubine Jujubes,” commonly known as “drunken jujubes,” which offer a special flavor blending wine fragrance and jujube aroma. As an herbal medicine, oil jujubes aid digestion, strengthen the spleen, and support kidney function.

　　The Baode Oil Jujube has over 380 years of cultivation history. Legend has it that in Panjia Township of the county, there was an old oil jujube tree which Emperor Kangxi once tasted during his inspection tour, leaving the comment: “In the impoverished Baode Prefecture, only the carp and the large oil jujubes are remarkable.” Since then, the Baode Oil Jujube became a tribute. Every autumn during the harvest season, local officials would collect fresh jujubes from the people to send to the capital as tribute.

　　Baode Oil Jujubes are mainly produced in five townships along the Yellow River in the county, covering 23 natural villages. The highest annual yield reached 1.75 million kilograms. The oil jujubes are characterized by their deep red color, glossy surface, large size, thin skin, thick flesh, small pit, juiciness, and good storage capacity. The edible portion of fresh jujubes is over 94%, with a sugar content of more than 27%, acid content of 0.71%, and vitamin C content of over 500 mg per 100 grams; dried products can reach 50%. Dried jujubes contain 57.9% sugar and 1.7% acid. Compared to other types of jujubes, oil jujubes have a higher acid content and a relatively sour taste, but they also contain more vitamin C than other varieties.

　　When processed into refined jujubes, Baode Oil Jujubes have a deep purple, glossy appearance, large size, no pit, thin skin, fine texture, and sweet, fragrant flesh. The most famous product is the processed “Pitless Sugar Jujube,” which is deep purple, glossy, large, pitless, with thin skin, fine texture, tender and sweet flesh, and a unique aroma. The finished product is sealed in plastic bags. For a long time, Baode Oil Jujubes have not only been a favorite local delicacy for entertaining guests and giving as gifts, but also sold well across the country and exported to 12 countries and regions including Thailand, earning significant foreign exchange for the nation.