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The fruit candy

A premium source of Vitamin C, they help relieve sore throat, bronchial catarrh and fever

EAT UP Dates are tasty and healthy too

The date palm is believed to have originated in the lands around the Persian Gulf. Much later, the Arabs spread dates to the areas around northern Africa. Dates have been traditionally a staple food in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Arabia and Iran. But Iran has always produced the best quality dates.

The palm yields dates, which ripen in stages. Each date is oval-cylindrical, 3-5 cm long and 2-3 cm in diameter. When unripe, the colour ranges from bright red to yellow. It contains a single seed about 2-2.5 cm long. The skin is wrinkled and coated with a sticky waxy film. Dates are high-energy food, containing sugar and fibre and hence suitable for both people and livestock. The fruit matures in stages and its colour, texture and flavour undergo changes. Green dates have maximum moisture content and are firm in texture. In the second stage, they begin to lose moisture and and acquire sweetness. In the third stage, loss of moisture is accelerated and the fruit becomes softer in texture. In the final stage, the fruit contains the least amount of moisture, maintains a soft texture and has enhanced sweetness.

Varieties

Medjool: It is the king of dates. Large and solid, it has a rich mahogany colour and a soft texture.

Barhi: It is known for its perfect round shape. Dark amber in colour, its flesh is thick, smooth, soft and translucent.

Honey: It has the taste, colour and texture of honey.

Black dates: Black in colour, it is sweet and creamy and melts in your mouth.

Gold princes: It is elongated, amber in colour and chewy.

Khadrawi: It is dark mahogany in colour, looks dry but is soft in texture.

Medicinal properties

Dates have high tannin content and are used as an astringent to treat intestinal troubles. It is taken as an infusion, decoction, syrup or paste to get relief from sore throat, cold, bronchial catarrh and fever. It also helps counter the effect of alcohol. A gum from the trunk is used in India for treating diarrhoea and genito-urinary ailments. The roots are traditionally used against toothache.

A 100gm of fresh dates is a premium source of Vitamin C and has 230kcal.A 100gm of dry dates provides 3gm of dietary fibre and contains 270kcal.

Culinary use

Dry or soft dates may be eaten as they are. They may be deseeded and stuffed with fillings such as almonds, orange or lemon peel and marzipan. They can be processed into cubes, paste, spread, syrup or powder (date sugar).

Thanks to recent innovation, we get sparkling date juice, which is used in some Islamic countries as a non-alcoholic version of champagne. Dates can be dehydrated, ground and mixed with grain to form a nutritious stock feed. The young leaves and flowers are also edible. The flower buds are used in salads or pounded with dried anchovies to make a condiment for bread. In southeast countries, North Africa, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, date palms are tapped for their sweet sap which is converted into palm sugar i.e. jaggery. In many places, it is drunk as molasses or an alcoholic beverage.

HRUDANANDA BEHERA
SOUS CHEF, HIP ASIA,
TAJ CONNEMARA

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