After eating three dates, his appearance still does not change at the age of sixty.
In the sixties and seventies of the last century, China was short of supplies, and children from poor families were eager to taste candy but could not afford to buy it. It was at this time that the snack "Iraqi dates" came into being.
This food was once all the rage in the north and south of the country, and was known as the "candy of the East", which was loved by adults and children alike, and they all ate it as candy or snacks.
However, as time goes by, the once-sought-after Iraqi dates have gradually lost their luster
The legend of the Iraqi dates.
Iraqi dates have a long history, and although they are often referred to as dates, they are very different from regular dates.
Iraqi dates are palmaceae, while our common red dates belong to the Rhamnosaaceae family, and there is no relationship between the two plants.
It is known as Iraqi dates domestically, but the more common name is "dates", while abroad it is known as "Persian dates", "jujubes", etc.
Iraqi dates have been around the earth much longer than humans, and it dates back to the age of the dinosaurs!It has lived on Earth for more than 50 million years and can be described as an ancient species on Earth.
The survival of Iraqi dates over the long years of the earth is entirely dependent on its physical ability to adapt to the harsh environment, even in the desert, which is extremely water-scarce.
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, local residents call this plant "rubies of the desert" because of the golden and shiny appearance of ripe Iraqi dates.
When you put it in your mouth, it will feel slightly astringent, but after a few more bites, you will find that it exudes a hint of fragrance, and the taste is very unique.
Iraqi dates are also produced in very high quantities in Dubai and other tropical regions, where they are considered an important cash crop.
According to statistics, an Iraqi jujube tree can produce 80 catties of dates per year, and with the growth of the tree's age, the yield will gradually increase.
Iraq's jujube trees also have a long history, some can live for hundreds of years, and the lifespan of ordinary jujube trees can reach seventy or eighty years.
Iraqi dates and dates have similar preservation properties in that they are picked after the fruit is ripe and then dried in a ventilated place. When processed in this way, they can be stored for a long time, similar to how products such as candied fruit are preserved.
In the 50s of the last century, Iraq was sanctioned by Western countries, which prevented the export of its native cash crop, dates. During this period, China assumed the responsibility of importing dates, and a large number of dates were introduced to China.
When Iraqi dates were first introduced to the country, the broad masses of the people unanimously praised them because of the scarcity of materials in that era.
Now that the people's living standards have improved, almost everyone has seen all kinds of rare species at home and abroad, but at that time, it was still very rare to see things from abroad.
Therefore, when Iraqi dates appeared on the market, many people wanted to try this foreign specialty for themselves, but many people were worried that it would be too high and delayed in buying it.
It wasn't long before the name of Iraqi dates spread through the streets, "Come and taste them, cheap and delicious Iraqi dates!"This kind of shouting came and went.
Since then, there has been a steady stream of people coming to buy Iraqi dates, mainly because the food is affordable!Many families can buy a pound or two to take home with their children to satisfy their hunger.
Children love to eat Iraqi dates because they are so sweet, and they are sweeter than other fruits.
In the era of food shortage, many people not only face the problem of being full, let alone enjoying life.
In this day and age, snacks such as sweets have become very common. With the development of industry and increasingly close international exchanges, candy is becoming more and more popular at home and abroad.
There are also more and more flavors and types of sweets, but in the past, children did not have candy to eat, so Iraqi dates became their favorite snack.
Iraqi dates are small and portable, like eating melon seeds, and you can enjoy a few of them anytime and anywhere, which can satisfy both hunger and hunger.
In the sixties, the Iraqi dates imported at that time were mainly used to make liquor in ** shochu factories. When I was in elementary school, there was a winery in Shenyang near the school. Whenever a car carrying dates passed by, the stevedores would drop some dates for us to eat when they saw us children, and they were so sweet. This memory was vividly described by a netizen.
At that time, Iraqi dates were clearly very popular, and they were often used as a substitute for sugar, because after all, Iraqi dates were inherently sweet.
When boiling porridge or boiling sweet water, you can add a few Iraqi dates, and when you put them in the pot and cook them slowly, they will emit a sweet smell and make people feel happy after smelling them.
However, Iraqi dates did not sell for long, and only older people were impressed by this food. In fact, the reason for the decline of Iraqi dates in our country is the result of a combination of factors.
The sales of Iraqi dates in our country have declined.
The increasing variety of food is an important reason, and the reason why Iraqi dates sold well in our country was because it was cheap and had an excellent taste.
At that time, the candy industry was not developed, and children in China were eager to eat candy, but there were very few;Today, however, the situation has changed dramatically, and a variety of high-quality sweets are available everywhere.
There are not only local sweets, but also many sweets from foreign brands. In addition, the types of candies are becoming more and more diverse, including pralines, gummies, fruit candies and so on.
Just look at the dates from Iraq, it still maintains its original appearance, and the production method has not changed, it is still the three steps of picking, drying and preservation.
Even traditional foods such as preserves are currently made in a variety of different ways, often with a variety of nutty preserves blended together, just like cutting a cake.
However, Iraqi dates rarely play a role in this, and many people today have never heard of Iraqi dates, let alone bought them.
However, Iraqi dates face an insurmountable obstacle in the form of restrictions on their imports, which have led to the closure of many sales channels.
Scientists in our country have found that Iraqi dates may bring local hepatitis, because there are many hepatitis patients in Iraq. This is the main reason.
After the introduction of Iraqi dates, the number of people suffering from hepatitis gradually increased, and in response to the discovery of this serious problem, we immediately took emergency measures.
There are rumors that the current epidemic of hepatitis B in China is caused by the import of Iraqi dates, but everyone has different opinions, and this statement may not be completely accurate, because it is likely to be caused by a combination of factors.
It is no secret that the texture and taste of Iraqi dates are not as good as they used to be. After careful inquiry, I learned that most people thought that Iraqi dates were too sweet.
It is true that the sweetness of Iraqi dates is beyond the norm, but its taste has always been the same, and it is only people's tastes that have changed.
The main reason for the reputation of Iraqi dates as "good quality and low price" is that the lack of food at that time led to a situation of "cherishing to the extreme", thus making Iraqi dates an incredible hit in the market.
The production of jujube in China has also gradually increased, and compared with Iraqi jujube, although the sweetness of jujube is not as good as the latter, the taste is better.
Moreover, jujube has a better functional effect than Iraqi dates, and is often used as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine or tonics, and is sold well in the market.
Chinese people like the moderate sweetness of red dates, compared to Iraqi dates, which are too sweet, you will feel tired when you eat a few of them, and you will not be so appetizing if you eat more.
Today, many people claim that Iraqi dates are no longer available on the market, but this is not the case. Although the quantity is limited, it is still available. Given the low sales volume, merchants are naturally reluctant to buy goods.
From the once popular to the current sluggishness, the market fate of Iraqi dates in China is affected by multiple factors, including market factors and long historical factors. It can be said that this result is the product of a combination of many reasons, and the speed of change in the world is impressive.