Red Dates Are the New Superfood You Can't Miss!
This plump, dark red fruit is often called "jujube" because of its similar texture and size to the Middle Eastern palm date and is most commonly eaten during Ramadan. Dates come from a sea buckthorn shrub or tree that can grow from 4 feet (1.2m) to 40 feet (12m) tall and 33 feet (10m) wide.
Where do red dates come from? Red jujube is actually a jujube fruit native to China, especially in the Xinjiang region. The authors of the article by Abakus Food note that the fruit has been cultivated in China for around 4,000 years, but GB Times pushes it back even further, around 8,000 years ago. Jujube wine was popular during the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC), but later dates became known for their use in traditional medicine and were featured in the 16th-century herbal work Compendium of Materia Medica.
The date tree is now grown in Europe and even Australia and is popular in part because of its hardiness. The fruit is also durable: if stored properly, even frozen, it can last for six months or even nearly a year. But with its delicious and nutritious properties, it tends not to keep for long!
Why choose red dates?
According to the USDA's Agricultural Research Service, dates are high in vitamin C and iron, as well as rich in flavonoids, antioxidants, and amino acids -- all of which are essential for good health. It is said to have better health benefits and is 50% less sweet.
It is because of these properties that Chinese people often use red dates to make soups or make red dates to help improve blood circulation. This tea is usually served to new mothers or those who need a boost of energy. People with low blood pressure or anemia are encouraged to drink jujube tea regularly or include this fruit in their diet.
Numerous studies, including this one from the University of Rouen in France, have examined the antioxidant-rich benefits of red dates. Research and scientific studies have found that red dates help fight insomnia, relieve gastrointestinal problems, and have anti-inflammatory properties. Some have declared it an "adaptogen" due to its apparent ability to shape or adapt to bodily needs, especially those related to stress.
But what does it taste like?
Red dates have a rich, earthy flavor that lends a wholesome aftertaste to soups or teas. It's high in sugar, so don't add sugar or other sweeteners when making jujube tea. Besides the delicious soup, feel free to make a vegan version, adding pumpkin and a pinch of brown sugar to the dates. The seeds of the fruit are usually removed before cooking or eating.
Red dates are sweet and chewy, and can also be eaten dried. Its chewy fruit is sweet and is often used to sweeten smoothies, cakes, and even porridge. A popular recipe is ripped red dates as a topping for peanut butter toast.
In Chinese culture, red dates symbolize fertility and are often seen at weddings, served to the bride and groom in soups along with peanuts, lotus seeds, and longan, a practice that symbolically encourages them to have children as soon as possible.
In Europe, Italians make dates into a liqueur called brodo di Giorgione, which is believed to have health benefits and is also used in religious ceremonies.
The above briefly introduces the benefits and uses of red dates. If you want to wholesale red dates, please contact us.
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