General Information
The date is a mainstay of the Arab diet, particularly among those who dwell in the desert. Extremely high in sugar – up to 70 percent of its weight – the fruit is a good source of protein as well as vitamins A and B. Arab nomads frequently survive in fine health for months on end eating nothing but dates and milk. Unlike many fruits, dates are already intensely sweet when harvested, and their high sugar content makes them self-preserving and extremely long lasting.
Fresh dates are often a misnomer. Virtually all of the dates we enjoy are not fresh, but have aged to a soft, moist, and very sweet product.
Fresh dates are hard, crunchy, a touch chalky, and not very sweet. Let fresh dates cure and use them in bread, puddings, or enjoy raw. High in potassium, iron and niacin.
Soft Bahri dates, from California, Israel, Egypt, and Tunisia, are sold on the “string” or stem. Unripe, they look like little golden tomatoes, turning brown, sticky, and wrinkled as they ripen.
