Workers at Yiwu Sanbao Agriculture Co are sun-drying jujubes in Gangyao village, Yiwu, a county-level city in Jinhua. [Photo/jinhua.com.cn]
In the Nanmizao Cultural Park in Gangyao village, Yiwu, a county-level city in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, employees of Yiwu Sanbao Agriculture Co were busy sun-drying jujubes — a long-standing tradition in Yiwu — on Aug 31.
Yiwu jujubes are a local specialty, made from high-quality Chinese dates that undergo a series of processes including washing, baking, and sun-drying.
The jujubes are dried and fermented in the sun, gradually transforming sugars into amino acids. Eventually, they are completely dried, and the core separates from the flesh, resulting in a soft and sticky taste.
The production technique is recognized as an intangible cultural heritage item in Zhejiang. Jujube, ham, and brown sugar are collectively known as the "Three Treasures of Yiwu".