Jishan county is one of the townships of jujube, which is rich in jujube. The varieties are Banzao, Changzao, Toad Jujube, Liuguan Jujube and Yuanzao. Among them, Banzao is the most famous, and Jishan Banzao is listed as the first of the seven famous dates in Shanxi Province.
According to legend, jujube originated in Shandong. Once upon a time, there was a Jishan named Duan who worked as a county magistrate in Shandong. Seeing that the local golden jujube was delicious, he transported it back to his hometown in a carriage. Because of soil, water and climate, a new variety-jujube was gradually formed.
This new variety is rectangular, bright in color, thick in meat and small in stone, sweet in taste, and weighs about 10g per fruit. Jujube will not dry up, deform and worm when stored for a long time, and it will still be round after drying; The skin is flexible and elastic. Raw food is sweet and crisp, and dried products are especially sweet. Also known as "jujube is big and small, jujube is small and seedless". The sugar content of fresh dates is about 35%, and the sugar content of dried products can reach 74%. The sealed jujube soaked in wine can be stored for more than 10 years without mildew, and the gold thread can be seen when opened by hand.
Banzao is mainly produced in hilly areas such as Liang Tao, Yaocun, Nanyang, Xinzhuang, wucun, Shangbai and Xiabai in this county. These areas have low altitude, high temperature, long sunshine, large temperature difference between day and night and dry climate, which are suitable for jujube growth and fruit sugar accumulation. The annual output is more than 654.38 million kilograms, and more than 50% is exported. Jujube is a fast-growing and high-yield tree species, with a yield of 30 ~ 40 kg per plant, and the yield per unit area of some big trees can reach hundreds of kg.
The county is especially famous for its crystal candied dates processed with banzao. This kind of candied jujube has Huang Liang color, clear pattern, thick meat, small pit, neat head, sweet taste and high nutritional value. Products are exported to domestic and foreign markets and well received.
Jujube originated in Jishan County and has been cultivated for more than 1000 years. It is a tribute of the imperial court in past dynasties, and entered the international market from 65438 to 0957. 1973 exported to Japan, North America and Southeast Asian countries; 198 1 was well received by experts at Changzhou National Jujube Appraisal Meeting; 1992 won the silver prize of the first China Agricultural Fair exclusively; 1993 won the gold medal of the first agricultural fair in Shanxi province; 1994 won the gold medal of the National Forestry Expo; 1995 was listed as a state banquet food; 1997 10 was rated as the first of the top ten famous dates in Shanxi Province at the first prize exhibition of dried fruits and economic forest products in Shanxi Province; Enjoy a high reputation at home and abroad. The peel of jujube is purple, and the pulp of fresh jujube is white and green. Edible part accounts for 96.65%, sugar content is 75.30%, and VC content is 500mg/ 100g, which is beneficial to human health and has high nutritional value and medicinal value.