In the Arab countries, dates are called “desert bread”; for more than 7 thousand years they have been grown in these hot countries. For an ordinary European person, these fruits of palm trees are considered a real exotic. Since new varieties are constantly being developed, today a very large number of varieties of this dried fruit have appeared. Here will be described the best varieties of dates, which are widely used not only in the Middle Eastern countries, but also throughout the world.
Few numbers
For such a long period of existence of dates, many of their varieties were bred. To date, there are more than 450 varieties of this fruit. The main exporter is Saudi Arabia, more than 18 million date palm trees grow in this country. In total, they produce 648,000 tons of crops annually.
The production and cultivation of dates is controlled at the state level, large funds are regularly allocated for fertilizing and planting new palm trees. This is all done so that this culture brings money to the country and occupies an important place in its economy.
But also a fairly large number of date palms are located in neighboring countries. Therefore, in order to understand which dates should be chosen, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the most common varieties.
Soft varieties
Such fruits can be consumed both fresh and dried. They have a large amount of moisture and a relatively small amount of sugar. Soft dates are preferred throughout Europe, as well as in the United States of America.
Mazfati
This variety of dates is considered the most popular in Iran, it is exported to the whole world. Mazfati is divided into more than 20 varieties. Dates have a color from light brown to almost black. The taste contains pleasant caramel notes, and the flesh is juicy and moderately sweet, the meaty consistency. The size of the fruit can reach almost 5 cm. In the CIS countries, this variety of dates is better known under the name "paradise". The fruit is rich in such vitamins:
- A1;
- FROM;
- B1, 2, 3, 5;
- potassium;
- iron.
If the product is stored at a temperature of about +5 degrees, then it can maintain its beneficial properties for one year.
Cabcab
Another popular variety of Iranian dates, it is also widespread in Saudi Arabia. The fruit has a pleasant amber color and an original honey taste, precisely because of its taste, it received the popular name "honey date".
Unlike the previous variety, this fruit is quite large, its length can reach 15 cm, its shape is oval. The fruit is very sweet, and therefore it can be stored for a long time. At temperatures up to +18 degrees, the product retains its qualities for 18 months. If it is stored at room temperature, then the shelf life is reduced to six months.
Hasui
Palm trees with such fruits grow almost throughout the Middle East. Its size is slightly smaller than in the previous case, but it is not inferior in sweetness. Storage conditions are similar to Kabkab. The color of the fruit is from light brown to dark purple. It is considered one of the best varieties of dates, the type of fruit depends on where it was grown.
Al-sukkari
The most popular representative of dates from Saudi Arabia. The fruits have a beautiful yellow color, the taste is incredibly sweet and delicate. Unfortunately, it will not work for a long time at positive temperature, so it is frozen or dried. In the latter case, the fetus also remains very soft. This date variety can be consumed at any stage of ripening.
Barhi
Another variety that is produced in sufficiently large quantities in Saudi Arabia, it is grown in Israel. The fruits are very juicy, have a bright yellow color, the shape is round. Its size is slightly larger than a regular walnut. Eat fruits fresh or dried. In the second case, the color of the fruit becomes darker, and a delicate aroma of lemon balm and vanilla appears.
Anbara
One of the most healthy varieties of soft dates, grown in Saudi Arabia. The fruits are small, their size barely reaches 3 cm in diameter. They have an oblong shape, color - red-brown, inside a small stone.
Unlike previous varieties, Anbar is considered a medicinal date, contains a large amount of protein, and also contributes to the rapid healing of wounds. Since this fruit is grown only in one country and in limited quantities, it is considered an elite variety. Therefore, it has a very high cost.
Hadravi
This variety of dates is grown in Iraq. Fruits are medium in size, up to 5 cm in diameter. When biting, a person feels a slight sugar crunching. As a rule, in European countries the product is used as an additive in desserts, included in the composition of mashed potatoes.
Date is rich in various vitamins, among which are:
- potassium;
- iron;
- B vitamins
The color of the fruit is golden red, depending on the stage of ripening, it may slightly change both in the light and the darker side.
Mujhul
The most popular variety of dates in the USA. The variety was first bred in Morocco, but Israel is the main exporter today. The fruits are quite large, up to 9 cm. The color is dark brown, sometimes it even reaches almost black. The peel is very thin, and when consumed, a bright aroma of caramel is felt.
Due to the complete lack of fat, the fruit has a total of 66 kcal. The middle price category in Europe is not as common as in the overseas country.
Solid varieties of dates with photos and descriptions
The peculiarity of such products is that they are much easier to use, they are not as sticky as the past species. You can take a handful of dates with you and use on jogging or after playing sports. Hard varieties are considered “desert bread” for the Arab population.
Turi
This variety is considered one of the most famous in the world from this category. The main exporter is Algeria. The product is completely non-sticky, has fairly firm skin and dry pulp. It tastes sweet and has a pleasant nutty aroma.
To make the product easier to use, it is pre-soaked, used for baking and salads. Turi is considered the first date that people began to use as food.
Zahedi
The date is widespread in Iran, its undoubted advantage is the simple separation of the pulp from the bone. The fruits are very large and reach 8 cm in diameter. The taste is not very different from Turi, all the same pleasant nutty aroma and sweetness.
It is used for cooking a variety of dishes, mainly from oriental cuisine. The product is rich in various vitamins. In the world, this variety is not too famous, in most cases it is used where it grows.
Socari
The sweetest variety of hard dates, mainly grows in the UAE. They are very hard and hard, the skin is soft, wrinkled. When consumed, pieces of crystalline sugar are well felt.
Al-asila
Palm trees with this sort of dates grow on sandy and clay soil in Saudi Arabia. In the world of Al-Asila is very popular, this fruit is very well exported. Palms are incredibly prolific, about 200 kg of harvest is collected from one tree. That is why such a date has a relatively low price, which positively affects demand.
The fruit is up to 5 cm long and weighs about 20 g; the color is coffee yellow. For use in various dishes, it is first soaked and only then used in cooking.
Beneficial features
It is not in vain that the Arabs are so fond of this product. Scientists have proven that consuming 10 dates a day with a glass of milk saturates the human body with the necessary amount of vitamins. Fruits are recommended to be consumed by people who suffer from hypertension, anemia, lung diseases, and improve brain activity. Moreover, if the cough does not go away for a long time, you can also try dates as a medicine, they help to eliminate sputum and improve physical condition.
Separately, dietary properties are also worth noting, dates in this can only compete with cereals, which also have a minimum amount of fat, but are very useful for humans.
Now you know what varieties of dates exist and how they differ from each other. Despite the rather high price of this product, yet its use is extremely necessary for the human body. Doctors recommend taking a small number of dates with people who work out in gyms, so the lost energy will be quickly restored.