It's the season for jujubes now. They have a crisp texture and a sweet taste. Not only are they delicious, but they also have significant health benefits! Jujubes are high in vitamin C and dietary fiber. In addition to providing the nutrients our bodies need, they can also promote bowel regularity!
Starting in September, fresh jujubes are gradually coming to market. The Maya jujube is the first to hit the fruit market in the fall. Also known as "bullet jujubes," their fruits are slender and long, shaped like a long cone to a long oval, round at the bottom and pointed at the top, with the top leaning to one side, hence the name "Maya jujube." The skin of a mature Maya jujube is red, the flesh is light green, it is full of moisture, tastes sweet, and has a high sugar content.
Fresh Maya jujubes can be considered an affordable fruit. Not only are they cheap, but they are also very nutritious. They are especially rich in vitamin C, 6 to 10 times that of citrus, and are known as the "king of VC among the common people." Every 100 grams of fresh jujubes contains about 200-350mg of VC. The "Chinese Dietary Guidelines for Residents" recommends a daily vitamin C intake of 100mg, which means that 100 grams of Maya jujubes can provide your daily requirement of VC. Moreover, the jujube polysaccharides in Maya jujubes can help boost the body's immunity. Additionally, Maya jujubes are rich in pectin and dietary fiber, which can promote bowel movements for people with constipation, increase satiety, and control appetite, making them suitable for people who want to lose weight.
It is worth noting that varieties like Dongzao jujubes are generally available from September to December. If jujubes appear on the market too early and are entirely red, it's possible that some unscrupulous vendors have used sodium saccharin (a food additive) to ripen them. Jujubes soaked in sodium saccharin will change from green to red in color and will taste very crisp and sweet. However, jujubes soaked in saccharin can be easily identified with a few tricks: First, look. If there is a distinct dividing line where the green and red meet, instead of a natural transition, it's a soaked jujube. Second, squeeze it. If it feels firm when you squeeze it, it's likely naturally ripe; if the flesh is soft and the ends collapse, it might be a soaked jujube. Third, taste it. If the skin is sweet but the inside has no flavor, it's probably soaked; if the skin has no flavor and the fruit is sweet, it's naturally ripe.
Jujubes are sweet, so it's easy to eat a few too many. Maya jujubes are rich in dietary fiber, so eating too many can easily cause indigestion, increase the burden on the stomach and intestines, and lead to diarrhea. People with poor spleen and stomach, as well as the elderly and children, are advised to eat less, about 5 or 6 at a time. They can also be eaten steamed.