Know Your Date - A deeper look at the variety of dates

By: Nadia Hubbi

Founder & CEO of Sweet Pillar & Co

Let’s talk about dates and not the kind between couples but the sweet dried fruit that has been around for centuries. Dates, bite size brown fruits are packed with health benefits and for the most part are available year round. While they are popular in organic and nutrition stores and during Ramadan, when many Muslims break their fast with a date, not many people know much more about them.

Dates originate from the Middle East where for generations they have sustained life in the hot arid region. In the 1920s, a rare disease called Baioudh disseminated most of the crop in the Moroccan desert, but eleven offshoots of the Medjool dates travelled to Southern California. Nine of the original eleven survived and have since flourished in the Coachella Valley in California. These account for more than 200 pounds of dates produced annually.

The date palm tree was so important in the Middle East that during wars date palm trees were destroyed as a means of weakening an opponent. Date palm trees were a main source of food and the destruction of those trees meant a significant decrease in food to the opponent.

One ancient Muslim story describes edible dates as the primary food created by God to nourish Adam in the garden of Eden. The palm tree is also believed to have been the primary material used to build Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) home. The Qu’ran references the date fruit about 26 times.

While in the Middle East there are over a hundred different kinds of dates, the three most popular in the US are the Medjool, Deglet, and Barhi dates.

Dates are classified as soft, semidry or dry. Soft dates which include Medjool, Khadrawy, Halawy and Barhi have a sweet creamy flesh because of their high moisture content. Semidry dates such as Deglet Noor and Zahidi have less moisture, sweetness and chewiness. Dry dates such as the Thoory have more of a hard, dry skin and very little moisture.

Storing & Handling dates: Although dates are considered dry fruits the ideal flavor is optimal when they have moisture and are stored properly. The best approach for handling dates, especially if large quantities are purchased, is to freeze them. Take them out a few hours before you are ready to consume to allow for thawing to take place. When frozen and thawed out, none of the flavor is lost and the moisture stays as is for up to a year. Refrigerating is the next best thing to keep them fresh for up to 30 days. Keep in mind that after 30 days the dates do not go bad, they just do not taste as mouthwatering as they do fresh.

Below is a quick guide to navigating the date scene:

Medjool dates: often nicknamed the “King of Dates” or “Natures Candy” because of its richness sweetness and it is the largest in size. They are plump and sweet with hints of wild honey and a touch of cinnamon. Medjool dates were once reserved for the Moroccon King and his guests and were truly a delicacy. Medjool dates are further separated into Jumbo, Large, Super and Choice. This grading system is designated by size, texture, skin and other important features. Jumbo Medjool dates are the largest and plumpest while the Choice, still very tasty but also referred to as the “2nds”; the Medjools that did not quite make the cut.

Harvested: September

Originally from Morocco.

Deglet Noor dates: “Date of Light” are amber colored and have a distinct delicate flavor. They are not as sweet or moist as Medjool dates but have a softer caramel-like taste. Because they are drier and smaller than other dates they make for a great snack or as a sweet addition to bread or a meal. The Deglet Noor dates are the most common cultivated dates in the United States.

Harvested: October

Originally from Tunisia and Algeria.

Barhi dates: Recognized by its almost perfectly round shape, this date can be eaten in the raw, semi-ripe state as well as the ripe stage. In the raw stage, they are referred to as Khalal dates and are golden yellow with a crunchy texture, similar to eating an apple. They taste slightly sweet with a slight spicy knack to it. As it ripens, it is more of a soft, dark amber with a smoother and softer flesh. Its sweet and creamy texture gives it the “Honeyball” nickname.

Harvested: August and September

Originally from Bursa, Iraq

Nutritional value: So everyone talks about how amazingly good dates are for you. But how good?

Well, dates have more potassium than a banana and more antioxidants than blueberries for starters. Nutrition and the healing properties of the date family have been noted in folk lore and at this present time research has deemed that the date may be considered an almost ideal food. Nutritional properties of a single Medjool date are remarkable to say the least. The list of vitamins contain Vitamin A, Retinol Activity Equivalent, Beta Carotene, Lutein + Zeaxanthin, Vitamin K, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Folic acid, dietary Folate equivalents, Pantothenic Acid, Choline, and Betaine.

And the impressive list goes on! Medjool dates contain a bountiful amount of Minerals; they include Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc, Copper, and Manganese.

Dates do also contain Protein and Amino Acids. Here are a few of the known 23 Amino Acids, Tryptophan, Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Cystine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, arginine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid, Glycine, Proline, and Serine. Now add to those entire nutrient lists zero Saturated fats and zero Trans fat, zero Cholesterol and extremely low Sodium content.

The energy that is derived from this date is from the large amounts of Invert Sugars that the Medjool date contains. Invert sugars make up about 70-78% of the sugar content. It is easily absorbed and assimilated in the body and provides the body with energy within minutes after eating it. In all actuality 1 mg of dates gives the body the energy equal to 3470 calories which is an amount larger than the adult man’s required daily amount! The fiber content of a one date is 2 g. The recommended fiber intake is 25g per day.

Bottom line is – having a few dates a day is extremely good for you!

Have a few of whatever specific date you prefer but do know the difference between each date. Mistaking dates for each other or assuming they are all the same is to strip each date from its uniqueness. Sure, they look the same and might even taste slightly similar but they are surely not the same. Each date has its own identity and characteristics and depending on what your taste buds are into, you might like one more than the other.

Like most of the immigrant community in the United States, dates have been on a long journey traveling a long way from the Middle East before finally settling in the Coachella Valley in hopes of a better future for themselves as well as their offspring. We are all glad they made the move, because we now have easy access to these amazing fruits.

Sweet Pillar & Co is Los Angeles based Middle Eastern dessert company that recalls the founder’s grandmother’s recipes fused with her own modern touch. Sweet Pillar & Co is NOT a religiously affiliated company and aims to bring the rich and diverse taste of the Middle East to your taste buds.

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