The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. This year it falls on September 13. One of the most traditional ways of marking the occasion is eating mooncakes. But do you know what this round pastry hides inside?

Have you tried jujube paste mooncake? The jujube is commonly known as red date or Chinese date. In biological terms, it has no close relation with the date (date palm); but the name is partly correct: it originates from China. 

Many provinces in China, including Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hebei, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region produce jujubes. However, the eastern province of Shandong is most famous, and a Shandong city is named Zao Zhuang – meaning "jujube village" in Chinese. Ningyang county in Shandong is honored the "hometown of big jujubes".

Botanists believe that the jujube is a fruit with most Chinese characteristics, not only because it originates from, and is widely grown, in China, but Chinese people have invented so many ways to enjoy the sweetness and aroma of the fruit. In China, the jujubes are eaten fresh, dried, candied; they are made into jujube paste and filled in a variety of pastries; they even float in the boiling hot pot, as well as in soup, porridge and herbal tea.

As one of the Chinese people's favorite foods, the jujube plays an important role in many traditional festivals. On Mid-Autumn Festival and Lantern Festival, we have jujube paste-filled mooncakes and yuanxiao; on Dragon Boat Festival, we have jujube zongzi; and for the upcoming Double-Ninth Day, try the fresh jujube and you will love it.

To learn more about what is in your mooncakes:

Part II: 

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2019-09-09/China-s-Flora-Tour-What-is-in-your-mooncake-Part-II-JQpWzEwxLW/index.html

Part I:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2019-09-09/What-s-in-your-mooncake-Part-I-JQdooQ5lS0/index.html

China's Flora Tour

From the wetlands along the coast to the dense rain forests hidden in the southwest of China, all boast an array of plant species. In this series, we will go on a tour to learn about some of the most iconic flora in different provinces and see how they live in harmony with the local climate and topography. 

(Cover image via VCG, designed by CGTN's Li Jingjie)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com)