What jujube paste means
Jujube paste is a sweet filling made from dried jujubes, also known as red dates or Chinese dates. It is a traditional ingredient in Chinese baking and confectionery, valued for its smooth texture and rich, fruity, slightly caramel flavour. To make it, dried jujubes are soaked and simmered until very soft, then the stones and tough skins are removed, usually by pressing the soft flesh through a sieve.
The resulting purée is cooked in a pan with sugar and oil or lard, stirred constantly over a gentle heat until it thickens into a dense, glossy, dark brown paste that holds its shape. Some cooks blend it with red bean paste or lotus seed paste. Jujube paste is best known as a filling for mooncakes, eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and is also used in steamed buns, flaky pastries, sweet dumplings, glutinous rice cakes and festive breads in northern China.
Because it takes time and patience to make, many cooks buy it ready-made from Asian supermarkets, where it is sold in tins and vacuum packs. It is sweet but less sugary than many fillings, with the natural fruitiness of the dates coming through. You will see jujube paste in Chinese baking recipes, especially for mooncakes, and on the ingredient lists of Chinese pastries.