SFist in the Kitchen: Jujubes

You won't find jujubes at your average farmer's market stall. If you want to buy the olive-sized, black and brown fruits, hunt out Asian-themed markets or tables selling Asian ingredients.

We're not sure why Chinese dates, as they're also called, haven't made more inroads into Western cuisine, though some historians think that Homer's lotus-eaters were riding a jujube high. The chalky texture of a raw jujube isn't very appealing, but the flavor—a subtle mix of green apple and dates with lots of sugar and little acid—makes it an enjoyable snack or ingredient in a salad. Each crunchy bite will give you twice as much Vitamin C as the equivalent weight of oranges, so maybe you should consider eating more as cold season approaches.

Photo by Melissa Schneider