You may have come across a strange looking, small fruit in Mallorcan shops and local markets called Gínjol, especially at this time of year. This Ziziphus jujuba fruit is also known as Jujube, Red Date, or Chinese Date. In Spain, the fruit is called Azufaifo; here in Mallorca you’ll find the fruit always under the Catalan name, Gínjol for the fruit and Gínjoler for the tree. The fruit seems quite popular amongst the Mallorcans, but frankly, I am not sure as to how they eat it or use it. I would rather suspect that its main use is as a desert, for cakes and for sweet syrups or jellies. I’ve also seen the fruit in its dried version here in Mallorca, when it has a distinctly red colour; dry it is sold as a dàtil (date).

I have eaten the fresh Gínjol fruit myself once, years ago, and I do remember neither liking nor disliking it. The Gínjol that I had then simply did not win me over. If I would know what to do with the fruit I would happily have another go.

Perhaps someone out there could enlighten us all?

The photo was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The dates: September 27th, 2009. The time was 14:03:27.