Jujube is one of the agricultural products of South Khorasan province in Iran. This product is produced in high volume, along with barberry and saffron. Khorasan jujube or red dates grow mostly in the eastern regions of Iran, especially in Khorasan, where the majority of this product is produced. About 95% of jujube trees grow in South Khorasan province in eastern Iran.

Jujube is a very resistant tree that can reach a height of more than 11 meters. The season for harvesting fresh jujube from a tree in Iran starts on August 15. Since jujube has a longer shelf life in a dry state, all producers of this product dry it completely at the beginning of the harvest season.

Jujube is known as Anab in Persian. It is now commercially produced in Iran and is the third largest producer in the world after China and South Korea.  Jujube has been cultivated in Iran for at least 2600 years, according to documents on the roof of the palace and the pillars of Persepolis during the Achaemenid Empire. We summarized the historical research achievements of 2600 years ago and reviewed the recent ones.

Because Iranian jujube is smaller than Chinese jujube, it is mostly used as a dry fruit. It is exported for therapeutic purposes and tea production. However, in terms of taste, it is very pleasant.

Iranian Jujube