Jujubes: What This Chinese Superfood Does To Your Body

What if one of the best things you could eat is something you’ve never heard of?

For example, the jujube fruit is a tasty fruit that offers a number of health benefits, but most in America have never heard of it. In fact, many in the west associate the name “jujube” with those sticky gummies you ate as a child.

So, just what is this fruit? How do you eat it, and what are the health benefits it has to offer? Keep reading to find out!

What is jujube fruit? 

The jujube fruit can be found in dozens of places all over the world, but they are mostly found in China. Due to that fact, this fruit is sometimes referred to as a “Chinese date.”

As long as you eat them when they are ripe, the jujube fruit has a flavor that is sweet but not too sweet. If you enjoy apricots, you can expect that level of sweetness, but not that exact flavor. Instead, they taste a bit like an apple, though it all depends on how you eat them (more on this soon).

Incidentally, while the health benefits of the jujube fruit are a relatively new concept for many in the west, this is old news in China. There, this fruit has been at the heart of different medical applications for thousands of years!

RELATED: 8 Fruits That Will Help Shed Those Unwanted Pounds

How to eat jujubes

Like the idea of eating jujube fruits? Well, you’re in luck, as there are multiple ways to consume these fruits and receive their health benefits.

For example, some people prefer to eat the jujube the same way they would eat an apple. If you do so, the fruit will taste best when the color is somewhere between red and greenish-yellow. Others prefer to eat these fruits when they have been dried out. Either way, the main trick is to eat around the seed inside of the jujube.

If you’re feeling creative, there are several other ways to use and consume these fruits. They taste good in hot cereal and can add a nice bit of sweetness to oatmeal. It also adds a nice bit of flavor to a salad or can be turned into a jam or as part of a sauce. Of course, if you just want the health benefits of the jujube, you can always consume it as a pill, powder, or tincture.

Now that you know what the jujube is and how to eat it, let’s take a closer look at the different health benefits this fruit has to offer.