Defining the product
 

About Dates:
Dates are as old as the history of mankind itself. They were ,most historians agree ,born even before mankind. In the desert region of North Africa or Eastern Europe, Asia Minor ,in all probabilities ,next to a green oasis, the date palm must have first raised its head .As the Arabs say: ”the date palm needs its feed in water and its head in the fire of the sky.”
The fruit growing on this divine tree, dates must have been first identified as edible fruits by the Babylonians ,almost 8000 years ago .In the pre-biblical times, we can almost picture Jacob traveling with his Tribes and cattle across the East European deserts ,living on dates and goat milk .In the Arab world ,legend holds that after Allah created the world ,he made the date palm not from common clay( like the rest of his universe ), but from leftovers from the material he had used to make Adam. Such is the veneration of this versatile fruit in this part of the world. It is no wonder too ,since it has almost 800 uses.
Like the coconut in coastal areas ,the date was regarded as a “Tree of Life” ,in the sense that each and every part of the tree was useful and used.
Date Fruit:
A date palm can grow to a height of 25 to 30 meters and possesses a crown of green leaves. fruits are formed in clusters , that develop beneath the leaves . The unripe fruits are found to be bright red or bright yellow in color. 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”,etc,are classified as semi dry and “Mazafati” is a major fresh type of dates fruits. The date fruits that are in early stages of ripening are known in Arabic as “Kimri” whereas ,those in the next stage are termed “ Khalal ” ,the ripe dates are called “Rutab” and when allowed to sun dry in the palm itself ,the dates are called “Tamr”. Kimri is the unripe one, khalal is the soft and crunchy dates, Rutab is fully ripe and soft and Tamr is the sun dried ones.
Now, dates are one of the widely used fruits across the world. It can be eaten as such or can be pitted and filled. The commonly used fillings are walnuts, cashews, almonds, candied orange, marzipan, cream cheese, etc. Dates are among the most indispensable ingredients in both Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. It is also processed into various products, like date syrup , date spread, date cubes, etc.
Type of Dates:
Mazafati Dates: This fresh date grows in Bam region. The coloring of this kind variety is dark brown to black and its taste is very delicious. Natural shelf life is over two years in cold storage at 0-5 c without fumigation.
Piyarom Dates: The semi-dried grows in Hormozgan region. The coloring of this kind is dark brown and it has a unique taste.
SayerDate: This semi-dried grows in the khozestan region .The coloring of this kind is dark brown.
Zahedi Date: This dried dates grows in Fars and Khozestan region. The coloring of this variety is yellow.
Kabkab Date: This fresh date grows in Fars region. The coloring of this variety is black.

Dates Nutritional Value:
Dates have a sweet taste that can be describe as a mixture of honey and sugar syrup. Apart from its sweet taste , the fruit is highly nutritious .
Date can be simply termed as a power pack of nutrients, despite their small size. Dates are known for being low in saturated fats , cholesterol, sodium and high in vitamins and important minerals. They are also popular for being high in dietary fiber. A one and half cup of dates contains almost 7 grams of dietary fibers in it. They also contain important vitamins like thiamin, riboflavin, niacin,vitaminB6 and pantothenic acid .All these vitamins are necessary to boost up the various body processes. The list of minerals ,that are found in dates is quite big which includes ,manganese ,magnesium ,copper ,potassium ,phosphorus ,calcium ,sulfur ,selenium ,etc. Each of these minerals benefits the body in its own different way. Moreover , dates are also rich in 20 different kinds of amino acids. They are good sources of natural sugars and antioxidants .All the nutrients present in dates are helpful to human body and thus ,we can say that the nutritional value of dates is very high .Dates can be consumed in different forms ,and all the forms are equally nutritious .You can soak dates overnights in water or boil them in milk for consumption ,it will taste equally yummy. The table given below provides the dates nutrition facts ,that will let you know the amount of important nutrients present in one single date which is to 24 grams.

Dates Nutrition Facts-Main Nutrients

Nutrients Amount %Daily Value
Carbohydrates 18 gm 6%
Protein 0.4 gm 1%
cholesterol 0 gm 0%
Dietary Fiber 1.6 gm 6%

Dates Nutrition Facts-Vitamins and Minerals

Type of Nutrient Nutrient Quantity %DV
Vitamin A 35.8IU 1%
Vitamin K 0.6mcg 1%
Vitamins Niacin 0.4mg 2%
Vitamin B6 0.1mg 3%
Folate 3.6mcg 1%
Calcium 15.4mg 2%
Iron 0.2mg 1%
Magnesium 13.0mg 3%
Minerals Phosphorus 14.9mg 1%
Potassium 16.7mg 5%
Sodium 0.2mg 0%
Zinc 0.1mg 1%
Copper 0.1mg 4%
Manganese 0.1mg 4%

Health Benefits of Dates:
Due to so many nutrients found in dates ,dates health benefits are innumerable. They are some of the richest sources of dietary fibers .Fiber intake helps in intoxication ,maintaining low cholesterol level and blood sugar and avoiding digestive system problem. Since they are natural laxatives ,they make some of the best natural remedies for constipation. Dates are also helpful in reducing gastric problems like acidity .The combination of dates and milk is one of the most nutritious drink for both adults and children. Dates make excellent source for gaining instant energy ,due to their high carbohydrate content.
As discussed earlier ,dates are known for their high mineral content. Potassium is a vital mineral needed by the body to regulate the blood pressure and it also helps to eliminate sodium content from the body. Thus , dates are useful for people having high blood pressure . Calcium and magnesium are necessary for maintaining healthy bones , while iron plays an important role in production of red blood cells. Being rich in antioxidants ,dates are immune system booster foods . All the vitamins found in dates are useful for maintaining overall health of the body . And lastly , dates have very low sodium ,fat and cholesterol content which makes them safe for consumption.
Some of the most noteworthy date fruit benefits are enlisted below:
®Dates are great for boosting the level of energy . This easily digestible fruit can supply quick energy by providing significant amount of carbohydrates and a host of vitamins and minerals.
®As dates contain dietary fiber ,they can promote the health of the colon ,ensure regular bowel movements and prevent constipation .Fiber can also help to lower the level of harmful LDL cholesterol in the body.
®The cholesterol lowering effect of dates can improve the health of the heart and cardiovascular system.
®One of the important dates nutrition facts is that these fruits can be used for getting relief from hangover associated with alcoholic intoxication. For this , one has to soak dates in water for a couple of minutes and then drink the water.
® Dates are rich in antioxidants ,which can protect the body cells and tissues from the damaging effects of free radicals .This in turn can help to provide protection against a number of diseases.
® Dates are excellent source of potassium ,which can help to regulate the level of blood pressure and heart rate ,and maintain the health of the nervous system.
® The presence of calcium makes dates an important food for maintaining the health of bones and teeth.
®Milk boiled with dates is considered by many as a healthy and nutritious drink for both children and adults , who are recovering from an injury or illness.
®Dates are considered as a helpful in improving sexual stamina and digestion as well.
®Dates have a high content of iron in them ,which makes them great home remedies for reducing iron deficiency . Anemia patients are advised to eat several dates on a daily basis to raise their level of iron in the blood.
®The American Cancer Society states that consumption of one date a day helps maintain healthy eyes for oneُ s lifetime. Dates are effective in keeping night blindness problems at bay .The society recommends intake of 20-35 grams of dietary fiber daily via date consumption .
®Their nicotinic content helps keep a check on pathological organism growth .Moreover ,dates help strengthen the uterus muscles ,enabling it to dilate in a smooth manner during delivery.
®Dates also enrich the mother ُs milk by providing it with nutrients beneficial for the body *health.
So ,this was a brief overview of dates nutrition ,as well as dates health benefits .To sum up ,dates are one of the nutritious fruits that can be included in a healthy or balanced diet .This fruit can be incorporated in the diet in various ways .You can have dates as a healthy snack ,or include a few chopped dates in puddings and cakes to make them more delicious .
In whatever way you consume , dates fruits are sure to promote your health and wellbeing .
The best way to eat dates is in their natural form .However ,the adventurous of spirit can try them in combination with cream cheese .Dates are eaten whole or incorporated in various .Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines ,served mainly as desserts ,these date fruits are generally chopped into tiny slices and scattered across and pudding to ameliorate their flavor .Some people mix date paste with yogurt ,milk ,bread or butter to enhance their flavor .Dates are also de-seeded and stuffed with several sweet fillings like apricot ,etc.
Dates can be stoned and filled with nuts like almonds ,plain or colored marzipan ,or rolled in dust sugar .They can be added to fruit salads ,and made into delicious compotes that go wonderfully well with cookies and puddings that are not too sweet in nature .
In the hands of the baker , moist dates can be an asset to sticky puddings and cakes ,and can be combined to very good effect with dry nuts like walnuts and almonds.
Now ,you have a basic idea about dates fruits ,its nutritional value and health benefits .So include this fruit in your diet and reap the benefits.

Date paste:
Date paste is a product of the date palm fruit .Date paste is considered a complete diet and a very important food item all over the world , similar to milk ,honey and grapes. Date paste has proved to be great for snacking and baking for people from all age groups , including diabetics and the ones following strict dietary regimes .
Date paste is an alluring sweetener with all the qualities of sugar without any loss of flavor and nourishing , it is basically an intermediate product and healthy food snack ,which can be eaten even when on the move.
Date paste is an excellent replacement for sugar in food and drink industries.

Date syrup:
Date syrup is a product of the date palm fruit.
In the raw:
®Uses on pancakes and waffles for a replacement of other syrup made with high fructose corn syrup or other processed sugars.
®In oatmeal rather than brown sugar.
®In a smoothie to give you that desired sweetness without adding sugar.
®Straight off a spoon for pure delight.
®For the more experienced chef-use as an enhancing flavor appeal in cooking meats ,much as you would a balsamic glaz ,or over fried sweet breads for a real experienced.

Industrial Dates:
Shelf life: one year
Which is usable for food industries and bakeries.

Chopped Dates:
Chopped Dates can be mixed with other nuts and consume directly. It is also used with milk as a breakfast cereal or with yogurt as a dessert .Chopped dates also used for making home cakes and cookies.