The ubiquitous mizao (honey jujube) found in Taiwanese markets is a variety of Indian jujube. Through continuous breeding improvements, Taiwan has developed sweeter, larger, and crispier cultivars that have won over consumers. These fruits boast glossy, pale green skin and delicate, juicy flesh with a satisfying crunch and honeyed sweetness. Remarkably, their weight has soared from the original variety's modest 10 grams to today's impressive specimens weighing over 300 grams each.

Southern regions including Kaohsiung City, Pingtung County, and Tainan City are the primary growing areas, with harvest season running from December through March.

Jujubes are common worldwide, including China, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and other Southeast Asian countries, even Central Asia—so why are Taiwan's jujubes unrivaled in terms of texture and flavor?

Taiwan jujubes can even be found in France

First, overseas and Taiwanese jujubes are bred for different goals. Foreign jujubes are small and have varied shapes, mostly used for processing and winemaking. Taiwan's honey jujube breeding aims for large fruit that's sweet, juicy, and crisp, primarily for fresh consumption.

Taiwan's markets offer a dazzling array of jujubes with beautiful appearances and lovely names like: Cherish, Honey Treasure, Treasure, Jade Treasure, Cherry, Sweetheart, Green Honey, Spring Honey, Fairy Peach Honey... and more.

Among these, Honey Treasure has a round, plump shape similar to an apple, with thin skin, abundant juice, and delicate texture carrying hints of sugarcane sweetness. With sweetness exceeding 13 Brix, it's dubbed the "bursting honey jujube." Cherish features an oval, emerald-green appearance with sweet, crisp, juicy flesh averaging over 150 grams per fruit and 12-15 Brix—both are darlings of the honey jujube world.

Taiwan's honey jujube varieties and cultivation techniques dominate globally, with quality that's highly competitive in international markets. Thanks to advances in cold-chain technology, Taiwan's jujubes now reach beyond Asian countries—they can even be spotted in French supermarkets.


Note: Names of varieties, publications, and individuals without established English equivalents are rendered using pinyin transliteration; refer to the original Chinese text for authoritative spellings.