What is a jujube? If you find yourself scratching your head and vaguely remembering your last trip to the movie theatre, you’re probably like the rest of us. Jujube candies are fruit flavored gummy things that come in a box and are almost always found at the cinema. Fun fact: the jujube candy is actually made from jujube paste. The original jujube, however, is a fruit that looks a lot like a date – only redder. And maybe a little more shriveled.

Jujubes have a really fun history and some interesting tidbits about how they came to be. Because jujubes are sweet, they give off a really sweet smell when they’re ripe on the tree and ready to be picked. Because the smell was so alluring, old legends would say that two people who were near the tree together would fall in love because of the allure of the jujube tree. And while we can’t confirm that the jujube tree holds magic love creating power, it does come from Asia.

More specifically, it’s cultivated mainly in China. However, there are varieties of the jujube that are cultivated in India and Korea as well. They taste similar to apples and can be pretty tart when they’re ripe. In fact, they’re commonly used as a substitute for apples and even dates (even though they’re much more tart than dates are) in recipes.

How do you Cook with a Jujube?

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The jujube is commonly used to make a sweet tea that’s really kind of perfect for those times after dinner when you want something sweet, but don’t quite want a full dessert. You might be able to find jujube tea at your local grocery store, but if you have whole jujubes at home, you can make your own tea that’s even better. And the best part? It takes two ingredients and about 15 minutes total.

How to Make Jujube Tea

Boil 2 cups of water, add a handful of jujubes into the water while boiling (about 4-5). Boil the jujubes in water for 15 minutes. Once finished, strain the water and pour into a cup. Don’t worry about adding honey or sugar – it will already be pretty sweet.

Other Ways to Use Jujubes

The jujube is used commonly in the same way other fruits are used: eating them raw (as a snack); drying or dehydrating them (so that they look and taste like large raisins); making them into flavored syrup and even creating jams and compotes out of them.

The jujube can be used the same as you would with any berry or fruit, and because it’s so naturally sweet, it works beautifully in teas, desserts, or as a quick snack. And it’s pretty healthy to boot, so it’s a great way to enjoy a treat without any guilty feelings afterwards.

Have you ever tried a jujube? Do you ever cook with them? Share your ideas and recipes with us in the comments!