Chinanews.com, Urumqi, February 1st (Reporter Cheng Yong) Eight-treasure rice, old chicken soup, jujube buns, jujube cake...Red dates, as an essential ingredient for Chinese New Year festive and nutritious, play an indispensable role on the Chinese dinner table , and the red dates from Xinjiang are loved by gourmets and family "chefs" because of their thin skin and small core, thick and crisp flesh, sweet and mellow, tender and refreshing, and no dregs in the mouth.
The Past and Present of Xinjiang Jujube
Chinese civilization originated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, and jujube planting also originated here.
According to textual research, jujube was introduced into Hebei during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, then introduced into Liaodong during the Han Dynasty, and expanded to the Yangtze River Basin during the Jin Dynasty.
More than 2,000 years ago, the opening of the Silk Road brought red dates from the Central Plains to the Western Regions.
The method used at that time was to dig out the jujube trees with soil, transport them to the destination and transplant them. This method is not only costly, but also has a low survival rate and cannot be scaled up. Therefore, it basically belongs to garden planting.
At present, the planting area of jujube in Xinjiang has reached more than 4.8 million mu (including Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps), ranking first in China.
Photo by Maimaiti Ali Aniwal
In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Xinjiang continued to introduce red dates from various places for planting, and some local varieties began to form. Among them, the more famous ones are Hami jujube, Kashi small jujube, and Xinjiang long round jujube.
In the early 1970s, thanks to the special geographical and climatic conditions, Xinjiang planting technology eliminated the disadvantages of the origin of jujube trees, making the cultivation performance of these varieties better than the origin.
In the late 1990s, southern Xinjiang introduced a large number of red dates from other provinces and regions, which set off a wave of planting boom.
In 2005, thanks to the innovative cultivation technology of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the cultivation of red dates in Xinjiang was promoted on a large scale.
As an important project to implement the transformation strategy of superior resources, Xinjiang vigorously promotes the construction of characteristic fruit forest bases.
Taking this as an opportunity, the jujube industry in Xinjiang ushered in development opportunities.
Today, Xinjiang has only imported about 100 varieties from the place of origin, and a series of main varieties have also been formed in various prefectures, counties and cities. The output of red dates has ranked first in the country for many years in a row.
Some jujube processing enterprises in Xinjiang are based on innovation, aiming at health, adapting to consumers' tastes, and their products are becoming more and more abundant.
Photo by Maimaiti Ali Aniwal
At present, Xinjiang generally presents the following pattern: Junzao in Hotan area, Hami jujube in Hami area, gray jujube in Ruoqiang County, gray jujube, Dongzao, and Jinsixiaozao in Aksu area; Zanhuang in Qiemo County Jujube, gray jujube.
Among them, Hami jujube and Aksu jujube have successfully applied for and been approved as geographical indication products.
The planting area of red dates in Xinjiang has reached more than 4.8 million mu (including Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps), ranking first in China, most of which are distributed around the Taklamakan Desert.
The jujube trees not only erected sand-proof walls for the oasis, but also became "golden fruits" for farmers to get rich.
Reasons why Xinjiang jujubes are "greener than blue"
Jujube is cold-resistant and drought-tolerant.
The unique geographical location and abundant light and heat resources give Xinjiang a unique advantage in jujube planting.
Hetian Junzao, Aksu, and Ruoqiang Gray Jujube, which are currently popular in the market, are all imported from the five provinces of Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, which are traditionally produced in China, and their quality is without exception "green comes from blue and is better than blue". .
In addition to the normal climatic conditions, the geographical location of the red jujube production area in Xinjiang has created a special ecological environment. Irrigation with snow water from the Tianshan Mountains facilitates the absorption of various mineral nutrients.
Abundant light and heat resources give Xinjiang a unique planting advantage, and the jujube varieties from other provinces and regions are without exception "green out of blue and better than blue".
Photo by Maimaiti Ali Aniwal
Red dates in Ruoqiang and Luopu counties and cities in southern Xinjiang are more distinctive. Due to the dry climate, there are almost no diseases and insect pests. Every immature date is covered with a layer of dust from the Taklamakan Desert.
In the local area, there is a kind of red dates that are naturally dried and hung on the tree. During the process of hanging and drying on the tree, the sugar content of the dates can rapidly develop and accumulate, and the essence is completely locked in the flesh, with a sugar content of more than 70%.
When harvesting, just shake the fruit tree gently, and the dates will fall to the ground like fallen leaves.
This kind of red dates has a thin skin and thick flesh, and the meat is dense and crispy. Even if it is boiled in soup, the skin can be kept intact, and the jujubes are round and full of jujube flavor!
Government supports Xinjiang red dates to be more "red"
From raw jujubes to processed jujubes, from jujube foods to jujube-containing foods, to meet the needs of consumers, Xinjiang jujubes are constantly changing from the outside to the inside, performing "seventy-two changes" in line with the rhythm of the consumer market, product packaging It also ranges from simple and extensive to fashionable and trendy.
Some jujube processing enterprises in Xinjiang focus on innovation, aim at health, and adapt to consumer tastes. The products are becoming more and more abundant, and there are even small canned jujubes with exquisite packaging. This kind of jujube has eye-catching brand logos and high product recognition. live.
Red dates in Xinjiang are loved by gourmets and family "chefs" because of their thin skin and small core, thick and crisp flesh, sweet and mellow, tender and refreshing, and no dregs in the mouth.
Photo by Maimaiti Ali Aniwal
"The previous method of waiting for purchasers to come to our door can no longer meet our needs. With the help of the county government, we opened a webcast to bring goods, and also innovated the packaging of red dates. We hired professional artists to design. According to our county red dates Precise marketing positioning based on the characteristics of the jujube has greatly increased the added value of red dates and increased income." Maimaiti Yiming, a jujube farmer in Luopu County, said that the county was the first to plant red dates on a large scale in the Hotan area.
In recent years, jujube products have become more and more abundant, and its "partners" have become more diverse.
Such as milk jujube, jujube with walnut and so on.
Yao Peisheng, who just sent a box of jujubes with walnuts to a friend from the Urumqi Donghuan Dried Fruit Market, told reporters that jujubes alone are too sweet, and walnuts alone are a bit astringent. Mixing the two foods tastes very good.
Behind the popularity of this kind of products is the practice of jujube products transforming towards innovation and health.
Red dates in counties and cities such as Ruoqiang and Luopu in southern Xinjiang are more distinctive. Due to the dry climate, there are almost no diseases and insect pests.
Photo by Maimaiti Ali Aniwal
The reporter noticed that red dates are currently used as raw materials in the market, and there are mainly two types of products: processed red dates and products containing dates.
Another type of products containing jujube elements, such as "jujube chicken", "jujube goose" and "jujube sheep" raised by jujube farmers, has also begun to emerge in the consumer market.
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