{"id":9415,"date":"2012-01-24T22:17:00","date_gmt":"2012-01-25T04:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/myhalalkitchen.com\/?p=9415"},"modified":"2021-03-05T21:54:03","modified_gmt":"2021-03-06T03:54:03","slug":"know-your-dates-to-enjoy-them-fully","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myhalalkitchen.com\/know-your-dates-to-enjoy-them-fully\/","title":{"rendered":"A Quick Guide to Dates & How to Store Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our latest guest post is <\/em>by Nadia Hubbi, Founder & CEO of Sweet Pillar & Co. Her chocolate<\/a>-covered dates captured me so much that I asked her to tell us all about how to find the perfect one for our tastebuds and the origins of this ancient, lovely fruit so that we can appreciate them all the more.<\/em><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk about dates and not the kind between couples but the sweet dried fruit<\/strong> that has been around for centuries. Dates, bite-size brown fruits, are packed with health benefits and for the most part are available year round. While they are popular in organic<\/strong> and nutrition stores and during Ramadan<\/strong>, when many Muslims break their fast with a date, not many people know much more about them.<\/p>\n

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Dates & Cream for Iftar, dessert or a healthy snack<\/em><\/p>\n

Dates originate from the Middle East where for generations they have sustained life in the hot arid region. In the 1920s, a rare disease called Baioudh<\/a> deciminated most of the crop in the Moroccan desert, but eleven offshoots of the Medjool<\/strong> dates travelled to Southern California. Nine of the original eleven survived and have since flourished in the Coachella Valley<\/a> in California. These account for more than 200 pounds of dates produced annually.<\/p>\n

The date palm tree was so important in the Middle East that during wars date palm trees were destroyed as a means of weakening an opponent. Date palm trees were a main source of food and the destruction of those trees meant a significant decrease in food to the opponent.<\/p>\n

One ancient Muslim story describes edible dates as the primary food created by God to nourish Adam in the garden of Eden. The palm tree is also believed to have been the primary material used to build Prophet Mohammed’s home. The Qu’ran references<\/a> the date fruit about 26 times.<\/p>\n

While in the Middle East there are over a hundred different kinds of dates, the three most popular in the US are the Medjool, Deglet, <\/strong>and Barhi<\/strong> dates.<\/p>\n

Dates are classified as soft, semidry or dry. Soft dates which include Medjool, Khadrawy, Halawy and Barhi have a sweet creamy flesh because of their high moisture<\/strong> content. Semidry dates such as Deglet Noor and Zahidi have less moisture, sweetness and chewiness. Dry dates such as the Thoor<\/strong>y have more of a hard, dry skin and very little moisture.<\/p>\n

Storing & Handling Dates<\/span><\/p>\n

Although dates are considered dry fruits, the ideal flavor is optimal when they have moisture and are stored properly. The best approach for handling dates, especially if large quantities are purchased, is to freeze them. Take them out a few hours before you are ready to consume to allow for thawing to take place. When frozen and thawed out, none of the flavor is lost and the moisture stays as-is for up to a year. Refrigerating is the next best thing to keep them fresh for up to 30 days. Keep in mind that after 30 days the dates do not go bad, they just do not taste as mouthwatering as they do fresh.<\/p>\n

Quick Guide to Navigating the Date Scene:<\/span><\/p>\n

Medjool dates:<\/strong> often nicknamed the \u201cKing of Dates\u201d or \u201cNature’s Candy\u201d because of its richness sweetness and it is the largest in size. They are plump and sweet with hints of wild honey and a touch of cinnamon. Medjool dates were once reserved for the Moroccon King and his guests and were truly a delicacy. Medjool dates are further separated into Jumbo, Large, Super and Choice. This grading system is designated by size, texture, skin and other important features. Jumbo Medjool dates are the largest and plumpest while the Choice, still very tasty but also referred to as the \u201c2nds\u201d; the Medjools that did not quite make the cut.<\/p>\n

Harvested: September and Originally from Morocco.<\/p>\n

Deglet Noor dates:<\/strong> \u201cDate of Light\u201d are amber colored and have a distinct delicate flavor. They are not as sweet or moist as Medjool dates but have a softer caramel-like taste. Because they are drier and smaller than other dates they make for a great snack or as a sweet addition to bread or a meal. The Deglet Noor dates are the most common cultivated dates in the United States.<\/p>\n

Harvested: October and Originally from Tunisia and Algeria.<\/p>\n

Barhi dates:<\/strong> Recognized by its almost perfectly round shape, this date can be eaten in the raw, semi-ripe state as well as the ripe stage. In the raw stage, they are referred to as<\/p>\n