Oct 09, 2026

Thai vs. Indian Jujube: What's the Difference?

Thai jujube is large and crisp, Indian jujube (ber) is tangy and aromatic. Compare flavor, size, uses and care.

Jujube, also called ber, is one of the fastest fruit trees you can grow. Thai and Indian types look similar on the tree, but taste and uses differ.

A quick note: Both are generally Ziziphus mauritiana; the difference is in the selections, not the species. We grow both Varieties

At a glance

	Thai jujube	Indian jujube (ber)
Fruit size	Large	Smaller
Texture	Crisp, apple-like	Softer to mealy, sometimes crisp
Flavor	Sweet, mild	Tangy to sweet, more aromatic
Best uses	Fresh eating	Fresh, dried, pickled, chutney Culinary uses: Share how you eat each. Ber has deep roots in South Asian cooking, including dried, spiced and pickled forms. [ADD a family recipe or tradition.] Growing both Full sun and good drainage; very drought tolerant once established. Fast growers, so prune hard after harvest to keep trees manageable. Expect fruit within 1-2 years from a grafted tree. Which should you plant? Thai for large, crisp, eat-out-of-hand fruit. Indian for tangy flavor and traditional cooking.