The date is a fruit that comes from the Date Palm which is a somewhat mysterious tree as its exact origin is unknown. It is however beleived to originally be from around the Persian Gulf and has long been eaten by people in the middle east due to its abundence. This is why the top 10 producers in the world are from that area which include Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia, although many other places grow them such as Arizona or California.
Further to this, the ancient Egyptians are said to have made wine from them dating back to around 4000BC. There has been some sources that have claimed evidence showing they were used up to 2000 years prior to this. It is thought to be one of the earliest cultivated fruits.
A bit more about dates
Its scientific name is 'Phoenix dactylifera' and the latter part of that name means 'date bearing'. This word comes from the greek equivalent which means "finger" and is said to be due to the oval-cylindrical shape they have. If you have never seen a non-dried date before they look somewhat like a large grape although the skin color can vary quite a lot. The color can also change as the fruit ripens but they will usually be bright red through to bright yellow.
There are three different types of dates - soft, semi-dry and dry and the classification depends on the different natural sugar content is has, although there are quite a lot of different ones grown within each of these groups. Dates are useful in many different types of food (see later pages) and also in a variety of ways.
Dates are a very versatile fruit and are used across the world in a number of different ways. In many western countries you will usually find partially dried dates which are sometimes glazed in syrup. If you want fresh ones, you will often only find them in the winter.
It is not uncommon for soft dates to be eaten as-is although as they contain a single, large stone many prefer ones that have had it removed. These are also called "pitted dates". Not only are these easier to eat or snack on, but they can also be stuffed with a number of different fillings. More commonly, you will find almonds or walnutes, but tahini and cream cheese are also popular fillings.
Other uses include chopping the dates up and using them in a number of sweet or savory dishes, such as cookies and Tajine or Tavvas. Even more popular than that is bread that has been made from dates, date honey and even alcohol.
The table below shows the nutritional value of dates. As you can see, they are a pretty awesome fruit.
| Principle | Nutrient Value | Percentage of RDA |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 277 Kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 74.97 g | 58% |
| Protein | 1.81g | 3% |
| Total Fat | 0.15 g | <1% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 6.7 g | 18% |
| Vitamins | ||
| Folates | 15 mcg | 4% |
| Niacin | 1.610 mg | 10% |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.805 mg | 16% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.249 mg | 19% |
| Riboflavin | 0.060 mg | 4.5% |
| Thiamin | 0.050 mg | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 149 IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg | 0% |
| Vitamin K | 2.7 mcg | 2% |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Sodium | 1 mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 696 mg | 16% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 64 mg | 6.5% |
| Copper | 0.362 mg | 40% |
| Iron | 0.90 mg | 11% |
| Magnesium | 54 mg | 13% |
| Manganese | 0.296 mg | 13% |
| Phosphorus | 62 mg | 9% |
| Zinc | 0.44 mg | 4% |
Article source : the health benefits of dates.
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