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Wednesday 10 September 2014

JUJUBE (Jinjol): AN ASIAN FRUIT IN SOUTH-EAST SPAIN.

 
jujube fruits
 
The jujube tree is cultivated in Asia, but since centuries also in south-east Spain, where is called “jinjol”, “ginjol”, and the cultivation isn’t intensive. It was traditional that next to the farmer´s house there was a jujube tree.
It´s a deciduous tree with thorny branches. The fruit is an edible oval drupe of 1.5-3 cms, when immature it is smooth-green, with the consistency and taste similar to an apple, and when are mature the colour is brown. It has a single hard stone similar to an olive.
In Elche you can find jujube fruits since the end of August to October, and the price at the vegetables&fruit shops are between 2 and 3 Euros (Kg). The taste isn’t spectacular and the pulp is quite dry, but…I like it.
 
jujube tree
 
 
Reading about the jujube fruit, I have seen that it have been used by the Chinese traditional medicine, where they are believed to alleviate many health problems. Even I´ve found articles about its anti-cancer activity:




It sounds very well, but I think it isn´t enough yet. Nevertheless, if you find jujube fruits, is worth to taste it.

jujube fruits