Zhanhua winter jujube crispy snacks. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

From seasonal fruit to year-round flavor 

"Beyond fresh fruit, Zhanhua now offers over 10 year-round jujube-flavored products: buds tea, flower honey, crisp freeze-dried slices, jujube liquor, and carved jujube wood crafts," said a staff member of the Zhanhua Winter Jujube Development Exhibition Hall.

Technological innovations extend the fresh winter jujube season, while deep processing and cultural events enhance the value beyond fresh fruit.

Vacuum freeze-dryers preserve the flavor for 24 months, transforming 250,000 kg of fruit into 25,000 kg of crispy jujube snacks. Wineries produce winter jujube flavor liquor, rich in fructose and micronutrients. Poetry contests, wood-carving workshops, and the Zhanhua winter jujube festival enrich the cultural value chain.

"From one-season fresh to four-season sweet, a full-cluster industry spanning R&D, e-commerce, logistics, and tourism is emerging, sweetening the Bohai Bay all year long," said Chen Yujuan, director of Zhanhua district.

Various Zhanhua winter jujube pastries offer year-round sweetness. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]