Fruit

Ziziphus jujuba

S tier

Ziziphus jujuba is the Chinese date—a temperate tree fruit eaten apple-crisp when fresh-yellow to mahogany and chewy-sweet when dried fully wrinkled. Flesh is pale and dry-sweet rather than juicy-tropical; a single stone sits in the centre. Trees tolerate heat, drought, and poor soils better than many orchard fruits once established. Fresh snacking, dessert soups, teas, and dried snack packs all use Z. jujuba. When recipes say jujube or Chinese red date, this species is meant. Fresh fruit bruises and ferments if soft-ripe is held warm; dried fruit stores for months sealed.