The third scene in Xinjiang: Ruoqiang Jujube

The products of a place are often inextricably linked with the geographical environment and natural resources there. As the saying goes, "one side of water and soil supports one side of people", in fact, people rely on that side of water and soil, and more importantly, the products brewed and carried by that side of water and soil.

Among the many specialties in Xinjiang, the earliest contact should be red dates, walnuts and raisins. Now we are used to calling them "the third". And this old sample is also the initial cognition of foreign friends on Xinjiang specialties.

Speaking of red dates, there are three famous red dates in Xinjiang: Hami jujube, Hotan jujube and Ruoqiang jujube.

Hami jujube is round and generally used as medicine. It is named after it is produced in Wubao Township, Hami Prefecture, Xinjiang. Hami jujube was very popular a few years ago, but it was gradually upstaged by Hetian jujube and Ruoqiang jujube. Since then, the scenery has gone from bad to worse.

Hetian jujube is shaped a bit like an egg, with a big head and a small head. Mainly produced in Hotan, Xinjiang, with 224 balls of the best quality. Because it belongs to Junzao, in order to distinguish it from Junzao such as Hami Jujube, it is customarily named Hotan Jujube, which is especially suitable as a snack.

Ruoqiang jujube is a kind of grey jujube, which is called Ruoqiang jujube because it is produced in Ruoqiang County and has the best quality.

Ruoqiang County is located in Bayinguoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, covering an area of 202,300 square kilometers. Because of its vast geographical location, it has the reputation of "the first county in China". The average altitude here is 763m ~ 1000m, the average annual frost-free period is 2 14 days, the hot weather above 35 degrees in summer is 58 days, and the average annual sunshine is 2985 hours.

Because it is located on the edge of Taklimakan desert, the temperature difference between day and night is as high as 28 degrees. The irrigation of Tianshan snow water has created the unique temperament of Ruoqiang jujube with thin skin, thick meat and small aftertaste.

In Xinjiang, we call it Ruoqiang Jujube Grey Jujube because it grows on the edge of Taklimakan Desert. If Qiang jujube ripens every time, the jujube skin will be covered with a thin layer of dust, which looks gray from a distance, so it is called grey jujube.

Don't underestimate this layer of ash, it has a magical protective effect on Ruoqiang jujube and can prevent nutrient loss. Because Ruoqiang jujube is the only jujube naturally hung on the jujube tree, after drying, people will knock down the grey jujube from the tree with a long stick, and then blow away the leaves with a special hair dryer, so that Ruoqiang jujube can be boxed, so that a special layer of ash has a good protection effect on Ruoqiang jujube.

Ruoqiang jujube is small and oval. In Xinjiang, the pulp is very magnetic and the stone is very slender. Natural air-dried Ruoqiang jujube is reddish brown.

If Qiang jujube can be eaten as a snack, it can also be used to cook porridge, soup and cake. Because of its sweet aftertaste, it is deeply loved by people, which explains the sentence that concentration is the essence.

Ruoqiang jujube contains vitamins A, B 1, B2, B6, B 12, C, P and so on. Known as "natural vitamin pills", it is rich in 18 amino acids and various mineral elements such as calcium, zinc, iron, potassium and phosphorus.

It contains a lot of carbohydrates and vitamins, has a strong nourishing effect and can improve human immunity. Rich vitamin C can convert excess cholesterol in human body into bile acid, which has a certain role in preventing gallstones.

There are two kinds of Ruoqiang jujube in the market. One is washed, which has the advantages of good-looking, clean and ready-to-eat. The disadvantage is that if it is not thoroughly dried after cleaning, it may grow mildew.

Personally, I usually prefer raw dates that have not been washed, that is, raw dates that have been dried on real trees. When I saw it, I was ashamed and ugly. If I wash it with clean water, or gently wipe it with a paper towel or towel, it will immediately become radiant. This kind of unwashed jujube has a longer shelf life if you wash as much as you eat.

If Qiang jujube can be put into the bag as a snack at any time, it is especially recommended for friends with hypoglycemia. If you are hungry at work or on business, eat a few Ruoqiang dates before meals, but jujube can make you feel refreshed immediately.

I like to put Ruoqiang jujube in porridge, whether it is rice porridge or millet porridge. If Qiang jujube is washed in advance, cut it with a knife and remove the jujube stone. The porridge cooked in this way has a unique sweetness from Ruoqiang Jujube, which is quite delicious.

Last year, a customer bought Ruoqiang jujube and steamed it three times and dried it three times. It is said that it is more easily absorbed by the spleen and stomach, which is both nutritious and delicious.