Jujube / Chinese Date (Ziziphus jujuba) LANG

Jujube (Chinese Date) - Variety 'Lang'

'Lang' is a legendary, traditional jujube variety globally recognized as the absolute best cultivar for drying. This elegant and exceptionally robust tree provides certainty and stability in every productive garden. If you are looking for a jujube that will provide the sweetest dried fruits with the texture and taste of true dates, the 'Lang' variety is your clear choice.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) 'Lang'

This elegant and exceptionally robust tree provides certainty and stability in every productive garden.

Main advantages of the variety:

• World standard for drying (best variety for producing "Chinese dates").
• Distinctly caramel, sweet taste after drying.
• Fruits can be left to dry directly on the tree.
• Shoots are nearly thornless (safe and easy harvesting).
• Extreme frost resistance (down to -28 °C) and very late bud break (protection against spring frosts).
• High tolerance to drought, diseases, and pests (low maintenance, organic cultivation).
• Early onset of fruiting (already in the 2nd year) and regular yields.
• Excellent shelf life of dried fruits.

Origin and Breeding

• Origin: China. It is a traditional selection originating from the fertile Yellow River valley (Huang He).
• History: Belongs to the oldest documented varieties in the world. For millennia, it served as a key energy reservoir for people in the Yellow River valley. In China, it is still considered the gold standard for producing traditional dried delicacies.

Detailed variety description: Tree and Pollination

• Vigor: Strong and upright. At maturity, it forms a charming tree about 3 to 4 meters high with a crown width of 2.5 to 3 meters.
• Habit: Features elegant, glossy leaves. A huge advantage during cultivation and harvesting is that the shoots are nearly thornless.
• Blooming and bud break: Breaks buds exceptionally late (only in early May), thereby reliably avoiding damage from late spring frosts. Blooms gradually and for a long time – from June through August.
• Pollination: The variety is partially self-fertile (yields reliably even as a solitary plant). However, to achieve high and balanced yields, a combination with another jujube variety for cross-pollination is recommended. Insects play a significant role in pollen transfer.

Fruits

• Size and weight: Medium to large drupes. Average weight is 15 – 20 g (exceptional fruits reach up to 30 g).
• Shape (Unique feature): Typical pear-like shape, making the variety instantly recognizable.
• Color and skin: The skin is thin and smooth. During ripening, it colors from green to an attractive mahogany to chestnut brown.
• Flesh: Greenish to creamy white, firm, and moderately juicy. Contains one small spindle-shaped pit. Features a higher dry matter and sugar content, predisposing it for drying.
• Taste: Pleasantly sweet in fresh condition. After drying, however, its taste intensifies into a distinct caramel profile reminiscent of true dried dates.

Cultivation properties and characteristics

• Phenology:
  • Ripening: Fruits ripen gradually from mid-September to October.
  • Yield: Regular and high. The tree enters fruiting very early, often already in the 2nd year after planting.
  • Harvest and processing (Gourmet tip): To achieve the best taste, it is recommended to let the fruits dry naturally directly on the tree. The true magic of the 'Lang' variety manifests when the skin of the fruits begins to wrinkle slightly – precisely then is the sugar concentration highest.
  • Shelf life and use: Dried fruits can be stored for many months without loss of quality. They are excellent as a healthy, naturally sweet snack with tea or chopped into baked desserts instead of dates and candied fruit. Tip: If you briefly soak dried fruits in hot water before consumption, they regain their suppleness and excellent juicy texture.
• Resistance and requirements:
  • Frost resistance: Exceptionally high. Mature trees with well-ripened wood withstand frosts down to -28 °C without damage.
  • Drought resistance: Once successfully established, it is extremely drought tolerant and generally prospers with minimal care.
  • Diseases and pests: Thanks to high natural resistance to fungal diseases and pests, it is ideal for clean organic (BIO) cultivation without chemicals.

Drawbacks of the variety:

• In fresh condition, the flesh is only moderately juicy (the variety is expressly bred for drying; other varieties like 'Li' or 'Chun' are more suitable for fresh consumption).
• Only partial self-fertility (a pollinator is beneficial to achieve 100% yield potential).
• Gradual fruit ripening (requires harvesting in multiple waves).