How to judge the quality of jujube

The quality of jujubes can be comprehensively evaluated from five aspects: appearance, odor, texture, taste, and storage status.

1. Appearance

High quality jujube skin is smooth and full, with a uniform color of deep red or purple red, without insect eyes, mold spots or obvious damage. Poor quality jujubes may experience local blackening, wrinkling, or skin cracking, and some may produce white flocculent material due to mold growth. The naturally ripe jujube stems are dry and have no exudation, while the color of artificially dyed or sulfur smoked jujube fruits is too bright and uneven.

2. Odor

Fresh dates have a sweet fruity aroma, while dried dates should have a natural honey aroma. If you smell the smell of sourness, alcohol, or pungent sulfur, it indicates that it has deteriorated or undergone chemical treatment. Jujubes smoked with sulfur have a pungent odor and will produce a strange smell after prolonged storage. When purchasing, you can break open the jujube flesh and smell the internal odor.

3. Touch

Fresh jujubes should have moderate elasticity when squeezed lightly, while dried jujubes should have a firm and non sticky texture. Poor quality dried dates may become soft due to moisture or excessively dry, and become as hard as stones. Some dates mixed with sugar may have a sticky surface. The degree of separation between the kernel and flesh is also crucial. High quality jujube kernels are small and thick, making them less likely to shake when gently shaken.

4. Taste

Good jujube flesh is delicate and residue free, fresh jujube juice is abundant, and dry jujube has a sweet and mellow taste without astringency when chewed. Poor quality jujubes may have coarse and hard fibers, bitter taste, or abnormal sweetness, and may be added with saccharin. The naturally ripe jujube has a slightly sour sweetness, while the artificially ripened sweetness is monotonous.

5. Storage status

Sealed packaging dates need to be checked for air leakage and moisture, and loose dates should be observed for clumping and insect marks. Vacuum packaging with swollen bags or frosting on the surface of dried dates indicates improper storage. It is recommended to refrigerate after purchase. If mold appears in the short term, it indicates that there have been quality issues in the early stages.

It is recommended to choose fresh jujubes of the current season or dried jujube products from legitimate channels for daily shopping, avoiding varieties with exceptionally bright colors. Fresh jujubes should be refrigerated for no more than one week, while dried jujubes should be sealed and moisture-proof. Soak in warm water before eating to remove the surface residue. It is advisable to control the consumption of 10-15 pills per day. diabetes patients should reduce the intake. If you find that the jujube meat tastes bitter or causes discomfort in your throat after consumption, you should immediately stop eating it.