The History of the Cultivation and Use of Jujubes (Chinese dates) in China

Written by Professor Feng, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China

The written record of the history of the cultivation and use of jujubes goes back more than 3000 years, but fossil jujube seeds discovered by archaeologists have been dated to 8,000 years ago. In the historical record, the use of Jujube has been noted in many literary, agricultural, political and medical books and documents. Building on the foundation of ancient research and uses, present-day Chinese scientists have conducted more in-depth research on jujubes in terms of planting technology, the breeding of varieties, and the value of applications to support and promote the development of China’s jujube industry.

Cultivation and varieties

Since ancient times, Chinese scholars have studied jujube varieties and horticulture. Examples include The Book of Poems, the earliest collection of poems in Chinese history, which was written nearly 3,000 years ago, contains many descriptions of the cultivation and harvesting of jujube trees. More recently, Qi Min Yao Shu, a Chinese book on horticulture written between 533 and 544 AD, systematically records planting methods and techniques for jujube trees. Relevant records in ancient books indicate that ancient Chinese scholars not only paid much attention to the research of jujube planting methods and techniques, but also spent a great deal of effort researching and collecting jujube varieties. For example, Erya, the first dictionary in ancient China, recorded more than 10 varieties of jujube; Qi Min Yao Shu recorded more than 30 varieties of jujube; but by the time that Da Zao Pu, a horticultural work, was written during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD), more than 70 varieties of jujube had been recorded; and in the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912 AD) Plant Name Real Map recorded more than 80 varieties. According to research by modern scholars, there are now more than 700 jujube varieties (including both natural varieties and improved, artificially-bred varieties) in China.

Production and consumption

In China, jujube planting is mainly distributed in the north. Historically, Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, Henan and Shaanxi provinces were the most important jujube producing areas, but in recent years, the jujube output of Xinjiang Autonomous Region has increased substantially because its unique geographical and climatic environment is well suited to the growth of jujube trees. At present, the output of red dates in these six jurisdictions accounts for about 87% of the national output. According to the latest statistics covering the period from 2013 to 2017, the global market for red dates has gradually increased, including both production and consumption. Global output reached 8.767 million tons in 2017, and the market was valued at US$ 9.682 billion. China’s jujube output was 8,522,200 tons and consumption reached 8,508,800 tons. Hence, over these five years, China’s jujube production accounted for about 97.2% of the world’s output making it the world’s largest jujube producer and consumer.

Uses in ancient times

In China, there is also a long history of the uses of red dates, mainly in food and medicine.

In terms of food, as early as 2000 years ago, the Book of Rites (a book on the national ordinance system in the Han Dynasty of China) contained records of people eating red dates and using them as food rituals or sacrifices. Many historical records show that in ancient China, ordinary people regarded red dates as an important food source and a highly nutritious food from trees.

The history of the medicinal use of red dates parallels the history of red dates as food. Medicinal use was recorded in a classic of Chinese medicine, Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, written during the Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago. In the book it is recorded that “the jujube tastes sweet, controls unhealthy influences on the heart, moderates and nourishes the spleen, helps the twelve meridians, calms the stomach, clears the nine orifices, increases qi and body fluids, balances nutrients in the body, calms the mind, energizes the limbs, is compatible with hundreds of herbal medicines, and when taken for many years increases energy and longevity”. Since then, there have been ongoing records in the classical texts of Chinese medicine classics of clinical research on the application of red dates in Chinese medicine. As a result, the theory and practice of the medicinal use of red dates has been continuously enriched and improved over the centuries.

One form of traditional Chinese medicine is the formulation of herbal remedies for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Over the course of the historical development of Chinese medicine, many remedies have been formulated that have come to be recommended by the doctors of past eras and are now regarded as classics. Most of these classic remedies use red dates. The medical use and theory concerning the use of jujubes in traditional Chinese medicine provides an important reference and foundation for research on jujube applications in modern biomedicine, pharmacy and nutritional sciences.

Modern research

Up to the present day, Chinese scientists have conducted a large number of in-depth studies on the nutritional and medicinal values of red dates. In summary, these studies mainly concentrate on two aspects: one is the examination and analysis of nutritionally- and biologically-active ingredients; and the other is pharmacological effects and the study of physiological functions.

Regarding nutritionally- and biologically-active ingredients, a large number of studies have shown that red dates are rich in energy, protein, carbohydrates (including cellulose fibre, monosaccharides, and disaccharides), fat, various vitamins, amino acids, and macro and trace elements. As this suite of components includes almost all of the nutrients necessary for the human body, the jujube fruit can be called a “complete plant-based nutrient library”. For example, red dates contain almost all the vitamins and amino acids necessary for the human body. In particular, the levels of vitamin C in fresh jujubes and the vitamin PP in dried jujubes are the highest among many fruits. Also, red dates contain 18 amino acids including 8 essential amino acids. Further, the level of cyclic adenosine phosphate (cAMP) contained in red dates is the highest amongst the plants that have been studied so far.

In addition to recognised nutrients, related studies have shown that red dates contain a large number of other biologically active ingredients, including alkaloids, triterpenic acids, flavonoids, organic acids, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, coumarins, sterols, oligopeptides, etc. These nutrients and biologically-active ingredients are the material basis for the pharmacological effects and other various physiological functions performed by red dates.

Regarding pharmacological activity and physiological functions, a large number of studies have shown that red dates have various biological active properties. In summary, these can be grouped into the following categories:

1. immune regulation;
2. anti-oxidation;
3. inhibition of allergic reactions;
4. anti-cancer properties;
5. anti-inflammatory properties;
6. regulation of the nervous and mental system;
7. brain cell protection;
8. anti-aging;
9. regulation of gastrointestinal function;
10. regulation of the balance of intestinal flora; and
11. regulation of energy metabolism.

These effects indicate that red dates can prevent the pathogenesis of various diseases (such as metabolic diseases, cancer, diseases of the immune system, brain and nervous system diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, and cell aging-related diseases), or delay the development of the diseases and promote recovery. Hence, red dates can play an important role in nutritional medicine.

In conclusion, from ancient times to the present day, research on the cultivation technology and use of jujubes has continued uninterrupted. These studies have fostered the development of the red date industry in China. Along with the ongoing deepening of related research, we believe that people will discover many new nutritional and medicinal values of the jujube which will not only promote the modernisation and international development of the jujube industry, but also benefit human health.