Jojo – Green or Snottie?

June 11, 2021

One of the things I looked forward to as a child growing up in St Croix was the tropical fruits that would bear in the summer months. One of my favorites was Jojo, scientifically known as, Ziziphus jujuba. In other parts of the Caribbean, they are referred to as “Dongs”. The leaves are green on the upper side, but a much lighter green underneath. I remember climbing the Jojo trees and getting “chook” (pricked) on my finger from its thorny branches.

The Jojo fruit is circular shaped like a globe grape. When green in color, this fruit has a tart taste and it has a similar consistency to that of an apple. However, at a more ripened stage, the Jojo turns into a dark orange or brown color with a slightly sweeter taste. As a child, we would call these “snotties” because the texture would be soft and mushy like mucus.

The skin is edible, however, one must be careful when biting into one because there is a very hard seed in the middle. The aroma of Jojo? Well, let us just say it is an acquired scent, especially when over-ripened. I love to eat them when they are green in color with a hint of yellow. Uhmmm, perfect! Which JoJo do you prefer, the “greens” or the “snotties”?