Abstract:To explore the suitability of different varieties of fresh jujubes for candied jujubes processing, physicochemical, sensory, and nutritional analyses of nine varieties of fresh jujubes at the white ripe stage were conducted. Comprehensive evaluation was conducted through combining principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis (CA). The results showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in physicochemical and nutritional indexes between the fresh jujubes and candied jujubes, with the coefficient of variation (CV) of fresh jujube indexes ranging from 1.89% (b* value) to 68.83% (sucrose content); The CV values of all the indexes of candied jujube were all above 10%. Except for total sugar and sucrose, the CV values of other indexes all increased. Among which, the CV of total sugar was the lowest (10.09%) and the CV value of hardness was the highest (80.10%). By using PCA, the indexes were reduced to four factors, with a cumulative contribution ratio of 86.83%. The ranking scores of candied jujube was as follows: “Wuhezao”>“Xinjia nghuizao”>“Zanhuangdazao”>“Fupingdazao”>“Taianlizao”>“Jinsidazao”>“Jinsixiaozao”>“Shanximuzao”>“Xianwangzao”. Through the CA of the indexes of fresh jujubes and candied jujubes, it was determined that moisture, fructose, and total phenolic content were the key indicators for screening suitable varieties for candied jujube processing. Further through the PCA and sensory evaluation, the scores of the comprehensive analysis were ranked: “Taianlizao”>“Wuhezao”>“Fupingdazao”>“Jinsidazao”>“Zanhuangdazao”>“Xianwangzao”=“Xinjianghuizao”>“Shanximuzao”>“Jinsixiaozao”). The final screening revealed the suitable fresh jujube varieties for processing candied jujube as “Taianlizao”, “Zanhuangdazao”, “Fupingdazao” and “Jinsidazao”, which provides a reference for the selection of specialized raw materials for candied jujube processing.