Dates

lat. Phoenix dactylifera

Group: Fruits and Vegetables

When I think of dates the picture of desert and a thirsty traveller comes to my mind who has travelled miles in the scorching desert on his camel and is looking for water and some shade. And then he spots something that brings smile to his face and fast he approaches that end of the never ending desert, and what he sees is an Oasis where there is water to quench his thirst and a inflated date tree for food. Then he ties his camel around the trunk of the date palm, drinks water, eats dates and then rests until the day draws to end and by that time, once a blazing desert by the day turns into a paradise of cool and gentle breeze when the sun sets.

The date fruit is one of the oldest cultivated tree crops, and has been grown for thousands of years. Dates are supposed to be the fruit of Heaven. It is full of nutrition and adds sweetness to life. This fruit is enormously liked throughout the world and is believed to have its origin in northern Africa and western Asia. However, date palm is now widely cultivated in many regions of the world. The history of date cultivation can also be traced back to the period of ancient Egyptians. It is said that the ancient Egyptians used to prepare wine form date fruits, which were also consumed in the fresh form. Even the Arabs started cultivating date palm from 6000 BCE. But it was the Arabs who introduced this fruit to most of the other regions across the globe.

Remains of dates have been found on a number of neolithic sites, particularly in Syria and Egypt. Date palms also appear engraved on seals of that period, sometimes flanked by animals, sometimes by gods and men and in Greece, it was a sacred tree. The Mesopotamians recognised the date fruit as an essential part of their diet and used tree for various purposes that included needles, thread, lumber, mattresses, rope, baskets and other household items, as well as food and beverage.

Talking of its botanical name, which is Phoenix dactylifera L.. There are references of the name Phoenix from two sources, that say. "The botanical name of the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L., is presumably derived from a Phoenician name "phoenix", which means date palm, and "dactylifera" derived from a Greek word "daktulos" meaning a finger, illustrating the fruit's form (Linné, 1734)." The name Phoenix was probably given to mark the date seed's ability to lie dormant for years.

Another source refers this botanical name to the "legendary Egyptian bird, "Phoenix", which lived to be 500 years old, and cast itself into a fire from which it rose with renewed growth (Pliny, 1489; Van Zyl, 1983). This resemblance to the date palm, which can also re-grow after fire damage, makes the bird and the date palm share this name, while "dactylifera" originates from the Hebrew word "dachel" which describes the fruit's shape (Popenoe, 1938)."

I remember being astonished by the news in 2005 of a 2000 year old date seed, which scientists in Israel had succeeded in getting to sprout and grow into a palm of a native type, that had been extinct for hundreds of years. That was the oldest known seed ever germinated.The seed was nicknamed Methusaleh after the oldest person in the Bible and was found in the ancient fortress of Masada, on a hilltop in the Judean desert by the Dead Sea. (More read here).

There are many different cultivars of dates that are classified as soft, semi dry and dry. 'Medjool' is one of the popular variety of soft dates, 'dayri', 'zahidi', are classified as semi dry and 'thoory' is a major dry type of dates fruits. Including Medjool, Amir Hajj, Saidy and Khadrawy are popular for their high quality. The date fruits that are in the early stages of ripening are known in Arabic as 'kimri', whereas, those in the next stage are termed 'khalal' which are soft and crunchy, the ripe dates are called 'rutab' they are soft and when the dates are allowed to sun dry in the palm itself, are called 'tamr'. The unripe fruits are found to be bright yellow or bright red in color.

Talking of the importance of dates among Muslims, for their high nutritional values dates are considered to be a complete food, their use increases especially in the month of Ramadan to keep and break fasts with as they help keep the energy level in harmony.

Proceeding further to talk about their religious importance, dates have been frequently mentioned in The Quran. There is a particular reference in the chapter entitled Miriam/ Mary, that says, "Thereupon she conceived, and retired to a far off place. And when she felt the pangs of childbirth she lay down by the trunk of a palm tree, crying: 'O, would that I had died and passed into oblivion.'

"But a voice from above cried out to her: 'Do not despair. Your Lord has provided a brook which runs at your feet, and if you shake the trunk of this palm tree it will drop fresh ripe dates into your lap. Therefore rejoice. Eat and drink." And from the records of history, The Prophet's Mosque, built at Medina around A.D. 630, was made almost entirely of palms: the columns and beams of the trunks, and the thatching and prayer mats of the leaves.

Dates as food in different countries

Dates are one of the widely used fruits across the world and have a sweet taste that can be described as a mixture of honey and sugar syrup. They are eaten as such or pitted and filled. Fillings that commonly accompany dates are, walnuts, cashews, candied orange, cream cheese, tahini, etc. In the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines dates are among the most indispensible ingredients.

They are also processed into various products, like, date syrup, date spread, date cubes, etc. People in the Middle East make an exotic syrup called Jallab which is made from dates, grapes, molasses and rose water which is mixed with ice and water to make a refreshing drink. Jallab acquries the same popularity in Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. Moving to Mediterranean countries, they like to eat dates stuffed with marzipan or walnuts. In Arabia dates are eaten with coffee to contrast with its bitterness.

Health benefits of dates

Apart from its sweet taste and warm sweet honey and sugar like aroma, date fruit is highly nutritious as it is rich in vitamins A1, B1, B2, B3, B5 and has around twenty essential amino acids. It has high levels of potassium, phosphorous, calcium, etc and also contains dietary fiber in significant amounts. It is rich in dietary fiber and this makes this fruit effective in preventing cholesterol absorption in the intestine.

Another dates health benefit is attributed by the presence of tannins that are antioxidants, which can fight inflammation, infection and hemorrhage. The potassium levels in dates is very high which promotes the health of the nervous system. Dates fruit is also known to boost sexual stamina. Being rich in beta-carotene and other flavonoids, dates protect the cells from the damage that can be caused by free radicals. Dates energise the heart and a moderate intake for heart patients is beneficial but if a person is diabetic, advice from a dietitian is highly recommended.

Few words about dates from my friends

From Iran: "Dates are so common here in Iran. They grow in south of Iran which is not Desert. Different kind of them are available fresh, dried and so on. They have a big role in our daily food. I drink tea with dates instead cubed sugar. In Iran people drink tea with cubed sugar, we call it "Gand " and sugar used in breakfast tea. Dates are served in special religious ceremonies and mourning gathering for deid people. Dates are eaten specially in Ramadan."

From Poland: "Date fruit is not common in Poland, we rather associate it with African countries, desert, it is used here to in cakes, dried fruits salads, or when someone wants to eat healthy."

From Italy: "Dates are mainly used in Southern Italy. We usually eat them during Christmas holidays. Dates are used in desserts as well."

From Argentina: "Here Dates are not very popular. We eat them sweet and they come mostly from Asia."  

Olfactory nerve

Along with some fragrance recommendations, I would like to read from you all as how dates play with your olfactory nerves. Does its sweet honey like aroma tickles your tastes buds and if you like it in fragrances and perfumed candles or other products of your choice?

    Mahjoun DSH Perfumes
    Haram Brecourt
    Adoration Boadicea the Victorious
    Precious Amber Bella Bellissima