My friends, these "dates" that are bigger than eggs are in season and are really delicious!

Have you ever eaten apple dates? They are emerald green, thin-skinned, tender, crisp and juicy. Their sweet taste is particularly appealing and many friends love them.

However, when eating apple dates, many people will have questions: "Is this an apple or a date?" Don't worry, in this article we will talk about apple dates so that everyone can understand what they are like.

Is apple date an apple or a date?

Apple dates, also known as milk dates, are actually Taiwan green dates. They are a fine variety of Indian hairy-leaf dates that have been improved and bred by Taiwanese breeders for generations. Apple dates are evergreen or semi-deciduous small trees of the genus Ziziphus in the family Rhamnaceae. When ripe, the fruit skin is yellow-green and the flesh is white. It has a crisp taste and tastes as sweet as milk. It looks like a green apple and is rich in nutrients, earning it the reputation of "tropical small apple".

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In other words, apple dates (milk dates) have nothing to do with apples or milk. They are of the same family and genus as the dates we eat in our daily lives, but they are just relatives of different species.

At present in China, apple dates are mainly planted in Yuanjiang County, Yunnan . The cultivation began around 1999, and it has been more than 20 years. The fruit trees are evergreen trees that can bloom and bear fruit continuously, and the fruits can be harvested in February and March every year.

What nutritional value does apple dates have?

Apple dates are the "giant" in the date family. Although the word "date" is in their name, they are much larger than the dates we usually eat. Some are even bigger than eggs. A fresh single fruit usually weighs more than 50 grams, and they are very delicious to eat. Not only that, the nutrition of apple dates is also good.
The calories of apple dates are lower than the winter dates we usually eat, and they are also rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, mineral potassium, and flavonoids.

1

Heat

When it comes to jujube, everyone thinks that the calories are not low. After all, the winter jujube we usually eat has a calorie content of up to 113kcal/100g. Eating too much will really make you fat. But surprisingly, the calories of apple jujube are not high, only 43kcal/100g, which is lower than the calories of apples . For those who need to control their weight or are losing weight, it is not too burdensome to eat and is still very friendly.

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2

Vitamin C

The vitamin C content of apple dates is 36.5mg/100g, which is slightly higher than that of oranges and 12 times that of apples. However, some literature also mentions that the vitamin C content of apple dates is as high as 280mg/100g. The vitamin C content of winter dates we usually eat is 243mg/100g, which is still amazing.

The "Chinese Dietary Nutrient Reference Intake 2023 Edition" recommends that adults consume 100 mg of vitamin C per day, and eating 1 to 2 apple dates can almost meet the requirement. Sufficient intake of vitamin C in the diet not only helps the body maintain normal immune function, but also helps maintain skin elasticity and prevent dry skin and wrinkles.

3

Mineral Potassium

Data shows that the potassium content of apple dates is 191mg/100g, which is not as high as bananas, but about the same as winter dates and more than twice that of apples, so it is also good in potassium supplementation . Dietary intake of potassium can not only help us maintain fluid balance and participate in cell metabolism, but also help stabilize blood pressure.

4

Flavonoids

Apple dates are rich in flavonoids, which is 392mg/100g, higher than most fruits (the flavonoid content of common fruits is 3-36mg/100g). This ingredient has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, can help us remove excess free radicals in the body, delay aging, and is also important in preventing cancer and protecting cardiovascular health.

As for the sugar in apple dates, the sugar content is about 12%, mainly glucose and fructose, with a very small amount of sucrose. It tastes medium sweet and will taste sweeter after being refrigerated.

How to preserve apple dates?

Apple dates are not easy to store after picking. The fruit will turn yellow or lose moisture easily, affecting the quality and taste. At room temperature of 20-27℃, apple dates can only be stored for 6-7 days; at low temperature of 4-8℃, they can be stored for about 30 days; when stored below 0℃ for 18 days, some fruits will suffer from chilling damage.

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Therefore, the fresh apple dates you buy can be refrigerated in the refrigerator at about 4℃. They can be stored for more than 1 month, and it is best to eat them as soon as possible.

Summarize:

Apple dates are large and sweet, rich in vitamin C, mineral potassium and flavonoids, and low in calories, making them a good fruit. Spring is the season when apple dates are on the market. If you haven't eaten them yet, you might as well buy some to try! If you really like them, you must seize the opportunity to make an appointment!

References

[1] Bai Chengxing, Bai Xinhua. Planting and management technology of Taiwan green jujube in Yuanjiang County[J]. Yunnan Agricultural Science and Technology, 2023(4):33-35

[2] Yang Yuexin. Chinese Food Composition Table 6th Edition Volume 1[M]. Peking University Medical Press, 2018

[3]Xu Xiaoyan, Wu Jinzhu. Analysis and utilization of nutritional components of Taiwan green jujube[J]. Food Science and Technology, 2009, 34(10):32-34.

[4] Zhang Fuping, Zhang Qiuyan. Effects of different storage temperatures on the physiology and quality of Taiwan green jujube[J]. Guangdong Agricultural Sciences, 2010, 37(4): 67-69

Planning and production

Author: Xue Qingxin, registered nutritionist

Reviewer: Ruan Guangfeng, Director of Science and Technology Department, Kexin Food and Nutrition Information Exchange Center

Planning丨Fu Sijia

Editor: Fu Sijia