Date Palm
I still remember the winter I spent in a small village near Barmer, in Rajasthan, where an elderly woman named Bai Sa invited me to watch her make gur (jaggery), from dates. She gently pressed the ripest dates by hand, and simmered the pulp in a large brass pot over a wood fire. As it thickened into a dark, glossy mass, the entire house smelled rich and warm. Later, she poured it into little terracotta moulds, letting it cool into dense, crumbly blocks. It tasted earthy, caramel-like, and way more intense than any store-bought jaggery I’d ever known.
— Danish, Goa
What is it?
The date palm is a tall, flowering tree cultivated mainly for its oval or cylindrical fruits, known as dates. These fruits typically range from 1 to 3 inches long, with a smooth, shiny skin that varies in colour from golden yellow to deep brown or black, depending on the variety and ripeness. Dates are naturally sweet and sticky, containing a soft, chewy flesh and a single hard seed at the centre. Rich in glucose, fructose, and sucrose, they make for a quick, energy-dense snack. Whether eaten fresh or dried, dates are valued for their nutritional content and long shelf life. Popular varieties grown worldwide include Khodry, Khalas, Ruthana, Sukkary, Sefri, Segae, Ajwa, Hilali, and Munifi.
What other names does it have?
Botanical Name: Phoenix dactylifera
Regional Names: Khajur, Kharek (Gujarati), Khejur (Bengali), Eechalu, Khajura (Kannada), Eetha Panna (Malayalam)
When is it in season?
Where is it found?
Date palms grow best in deep, well-drained, sandy loam soils. The regions where they thrive typically experience very high temperatures, which are caused by low humidity, strong sunlight, and long summer days—ideal conditions for healthy fruit development. Source.
What is its history/cultural significance?
The date palm is considered one of the earliest cultivated plants in human history, with evidence of its use as a source of food for over 6,000 years. It holds an important place in the diets and cultures of the Middle East and North Africa, where it is among the most favoured fruits. Due to its ancient origins and widespread exchange of cultivars, the exact origin of the date palm is uncertain, but it is believed to have first grown in either ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day southern Iraq) or western India.
Dates have long been used not only as a staple food but also in traditional medicine. Known for their high nutritional value, abundant yield, and the long lifespan of the tree, date palms are often referred to as the “Tree of Life.” In India, they are considered among the most useful traditional medicinal plants. Source
How can you use it?
Wash fresh dates thoroughly to remove any dirt or surface residue. Each date contains a single, long, hard seed, which can be easily removed by gently slicing the fruit lengthwise. Dates can be enjoyed fresh, or used to make jams, desserts, or energy-rich snacks.
What states can I find it in?
What parts of the plant are edible?
The fruit.
Is it nutritious?
Dates are a nutrient-rich and affordable source of essential carbohydrates, protein, and dietary fibre. They also contain important vitamins like A, B, C, E, and K, along with minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron. Besides being an excellent source of energy, dates are also packed with antioxidants.Source
How do you store it?
Dates stay fresh for up to two weeks when refrigerated, and for a week at room temperature.
Recipes
Khajoor Halwa Recipe by Mamta L. Lalwani
‘Know Your Desi Ingredients’ is an ever-expanding repository of knowledge for ingredients that are native to the Indian subcontinent and adapted into the mainstream culinary narratives of people, places, and cultures across India. If you would like to share more information about the write-ups featured here, send us an email at connect@thelocavore.in with your inputs and any verified sources we should look into.
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