Finding fresh or dried jujubes (also known as Chinese dates or red dates) is easier than it once was, especially with the rise of specialized online grocers and the popularity of Asian cuisine. Where to Buy Jujubes
Once upon a time, in the sun-drenched valleys of the Yellow River in ancient China, a tree stood that the people called the Tsao . It wasn’t a massive, imposing oak, but a resilient, thorny survivor that could withstand the harshest droughts and the coldest winters. This was the Jujube tree, and for over 4,000 years, it has been a cornerstone of life, health, and celebration. where to buy jujubes fruit
The fruit’s journey across the world began with the Silk Road. Traders carried the dried, wrinkled "red dates" in their saddlebags, introducing them to the Middle East and Europe around 380 CE. It wasn't until the early 1900s that the jujube made its official debut in America. An agricultural explorer named Frank Meyer—the same man behind the Meyer lemon—brought 67 different varieties from China to the USDA. They were planted in Chico, California, where the hot, dry climate perfectly mimicked their ancestral home. Finding fresh or dried jujubes (also known as
: Specialized farms like Just Jujubes and Royal Jujube ship fresh fruit during harvest seasons. Persian Basket also carries them. This was the Jujube tree, and for over
Depending on whether you want them fresh, dried, or even as a tree to grow yourself, here are the best places to look: