Produce Spotlight: Jujubes

It is officially autumn, and that means the return of fall fruits and vegetables! Today I’d like to tell you a little bit about one of my favorite oddball fruits, the jujube. Also known as the Chinese date, jujubes have been a staple in Asian cultures for thousands of years, and it’s not hard to see why. These grape-sized snacks are sweet, crunchy, nutritional powerhouses.

A 100g serving of jujubes (about three fruits), is only 79 calories and provides a whopping 77% of your daily vitamin C. This makes them excellent for boosting immunity, as well as helping manage blood pressure. Jujubes are also an excellent source of fiber, making them great for digestive health. They’re also great for improving sleep. The flavonoids and saponins they contain have been shown to increase GABA and serotonin levels which helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. All around they’re an excellent healthy snack!

Jujubes can be eaten fresh or dried and can be used in many different recipes. Historically they’ve been used to make bread, marmalades, juices, and tea. They make an excellent snack! To tap into their sleep benefits best, try this Chinese recipe for jujube tea:

Chinese Jujube Tea

Prep Time: 15 min.      Cook Time: 15 min.       Total Time: 30 min.

Ingredients:

• 6 jujubes
• 1 tbsp. gogi berries
• 1 2-inch piece of ginger
• 1 tbsp. honey (or to taste)

Instructions:

1. Place your jujubes in a large bowl filled with water. Cover and soak for 10 minutes, then gently rub each jujube to remove any dust.
2. Drain the water, then halve the jujubes using a paring knife, removing the cores. Set aside.
3. Rinse the goji berries with water. Set aside.
4. Add the jujubes, goji berries, ginger, and four cups of water to a small pot.
5. Cook over medium-high heat. Once it begins to boil, turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Once done, strain the tea using a small strainer. Press the jujubes to release as much liquid as possible.
   Add your honey and stir until dissolved. Taste the tea and add more honey if needed. Serve hot, and sweet dreams!