Kyle and Emily unwrap a deceptively sweet treat this week: jujube. What seems only to be a humble fruit quickly reveals a tangled history of biblical proportions. From man’s original sin, to Odysseus’ fruit-addled men, what was once medicine is now a sweet tooth’s dream.

From Classical Latin and Greek, through French phonetic quirks, and into a global plant of myth, the fruit finds its way into both biblical lore and the hands of Homer’s lotus-eaters. Transcending its role as a mere plant botanical, Kyle proves jujube to be the cultural and linguistic novelty it is.

Finally, the word dissolves quite literally into medicine and sweets. Kyle takes Emily for a trip to an early apothecary only to reveal it’s really just a candyshop. A small word, a long chew, and plenty of flavor left to savor. It may not totally relieve your cough, but it’ll be sweet going down at least! 

Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.

Like and follow us on Instagram and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnipsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on YouTube @ButterNoParsnips

Follow us on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to watch us live? Follow us on Twitch!

Support us

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/ButterNoParsnips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ko-fi: www.ko-fi.com/butternoparsnips

⁠www.bnppod.com⁠

Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore