Dates

Medjool Dates at the Mercat Central de València, Spain

• An excellent source of potassium
• A good source of iron and calcium
• High in fiber

Prized for their sweet fruits, date palms (also known as Phoenix dactylifera) are among the oldest cultivated trees; they are believed to have been grown in North Africa for at least 8,000 years. The domestication of Dates was also discovered in the neolithic Mehrgarh dating back to 5000BC.^[1] These desert trees are extraordinarily fruitful, producing up to 200 dates in a cluster.

Fresh dates are classified according to their moisture content, falling into three categories: soft,semi-soft, and dry. Most varieties in the United States are semi-soft, which are marketed fresh as well as dried after part of their moisture has evaporated.

With 60 to 70 percent of their weight coming from sugar, dates are one of the sweetest of all fruits. They are very high in potassium; several times more than a comparable amount of other high-potassium foods, such as bananas and oranges. Dates have iron, niacin, vitamin B6, as well as fiber. Dates are also considered to have a high tannin content and have been used medicinally as having cleansing power and astringent in intestinal troubles. Traditionally in some cultures an infusion, decoction, syrup or paste of dates has been administered for colds, bronchial catarrh, sore throats and other ailments. Some believe they can even counteract alcohol intoxication. Its hard to believe that this food, as delicious as it is could be considered a medicine.

The date has a long, narrow seed, papery-thin skin and extremely sweet flesh. Dates grow in thick clusters on giant date palm trees. Their length varies from 1 to 2 inches, depending on the variety. Their color also varies when ripe, from golden brown to deep brown. Fresh dates are available from late summer through mid-fall.

Types of Dates

Medjool Date

Medjool’s are the Lambourgini of dates, and Abundance has Medjool dates in every pack!

A soft, sweet, succulent date with a velvety texture and a delicious taste, Medjool’s were originally grown in Moroccan exclusively for royalty. It wasn’t until 1972 when disease threatened to destroy their trees, that Morocco sent 11 off-shoot to the United States to prevent this delicious fruit from becoming extinct.

Considered the ultimate delicacy, these are the largest dates grown in North America. Medjool’s (jumbo) are twice as large as all the other dates, yet they have a relatively small pit. Excellent for stuffing with your favorite filling such as cheese, pecans, cream cheese or peanut butter; or just eating alone.

Deglet Noor Date

A chewy, drier date with a slightly nutty flavor, not as sweet as our other varieties. These are excellent to snack on.

Halawi Date

A medium sized, soft golden brown date, with a rich creamy sweet flavor, and a caramel like texture. Originally from Iraq, Halawi means ’sweet’.

Khadrwy Date

A small dark mahogany date with a dry flaky skin. Originally from Iraq, they have a high moisture content, less sugar, and a mild flavor.

Nutritional Analysis

USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 14 (July 2001)

References

1. The Evolution and History of Human Populations in South Asia: Inter-disciplinary Studies in Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Linguistics and Genetics … Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology) by Michael D. Petraglia and Bridget Allchin (Hardcover – May 3, 2007) pp 403