Jujube or Chinese date, as it's also called, is among the healthiest fruits. Jujube can be dried, thus preserving its healthy properties.
Jujube does not remain fresh for very long. The fruit needs to be dried in order to be stored and consumed for a longer period.
Drying Jujube fruits is very similar to drying dates, hence the name - Chinese date.
Once dried, jujubes visually resemble dates very closely, and they can be eaten that way or cooked.
Picked jujubes need to be washed before being dried. Don't dry bruised fruits or ones that still have branches and leaves.
Begin by boiling the jujubes in a water bath. Pour water into a large and deep pot and place a smaller one inside, which is to contain the jujubes.
Once you pick out fruits suitable for drying, put them in the smaller pot and pour in just enough water to cover the fruits; don't fill up the entire pot with water.
Put a lid on the smaller pot in the water bath. Let the water in the bigger pot come to a boil. This will take about 20 min.
Once it does come to a boil, check to see whether the fruits have softened enough and if they have, remove the lid and sprinkle 1/2 cup of sugar over the jujubes. Gently stir the fruits with the sugar until the sugar completely dissolves.
Remove the jujubes from the hot stove and let them cool.
Once the fruits cool, it is best to put them in a food dehydrator with the temperature at 140°F (60°C). The best drying happens in these types of machines.
But if you don't have a dehydrator, you can try to complete the drying process in an oven by arranging the fruits in rows in a tray, making sure they don't touch each other.
Turn the oven on to 140°F (60°C) and let the jujubes dry.
If using a dehydrator, it will take the fruits 24 hours to dry completely.
Store the dried fruits in bags at room temperature. Their shelf life is 1 year.
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