Anhui Red Dates (Oval, dark red, glossy, wrinkled, fragrant, sweet, and oily)
Chicken Heart Dates (Pit makes a “cluck cluck” sound)(Skin is sour and good)
Jujube (Xinjiang Loulan)
Xinjiang Red Dates
No Jujube (Apple Dates)
Pitted Red Dates
Seedless Red Dates
Red Dates for Food Use
Large Bubble Dates
Black Dates (Fu Dates) (Jet Black)
Black Dates (Horse Tooth Dates)
Long Black Dates for Food Use
【Naming】
【Source】
Superior Grade in the Classic of Materia Medica
【Common Use Level】
A
【Botanical Origin】
The dried, mature fruit of Zizyphus jujuba Mill. var. inermis (Bge.) Rehd. in the Rhamnaceae family.
【Characteristics】
Slightly oval or elliptical, about 2-3.5cm long and 1.5-2.5cm in diameter. The surface of red dates is dark red with a luster, while black dates are jet black, with irregular wrinkles. One end of the fruit has a deep depression, and the other end has a small protrusion. The outer pericarp is thin, and the middle pericarp is fleshy and soft, like a sponge, yellowish-brown in color. The fruit core is spindle-shaped, hard, sharp at both ends, and dark red on the surface. It has a faint odor and a sweet taste.
【Identification】
《Bencao Pinhui Jingyao》: “Dates from Zhou Prefecture, Jin Prefecture, and Jiang Prefecture are the best.” 《Bencao Beiyao》: “Those that are plump and moist from the north are good.” 《Pao Zhi Quan Shu》: “Those that are large, have small pits, are rich in oil, and have a sweet and delicious taste are good.” 《Yao Zheng》: “Large jujubes of the Han variety are good.” 《Liang Lie Jian Bie》: “Those with abundant flesh, when pressed with a finger, feel elastic, and are large in size are top grade.” The best are those that are red in color, thick in flesh, plump, oily, small in pit, and sweet in taste.
【Identification Terminology】
1. Size (個子): Also known as “ge (個)”, it is a unit of measurement term used to describe quality. Medicinal materials described using this term include jujube, smoked plum, gardenia, green tangerine peel, and hawthorn. Generally, larger sizes are considered better. Complete medicinal materials are also often called “ge zi yao (個子藥)” to distinguish them from prepared slices. 2. Sugar Content (糖性): Refers to the sweetness possessed by medicinal materials containing sugar, such as mulberry and jujube.
【Chapter】
Fruits