Date or Date Palm is one of the earliest cultivated crops in the world. Believed to be of Middle Eastern in origin, the history of the cultivation of this tree (Phoenix dactylifera) – famous for its sweet, rich and oval-cylindrical fruit – can be traced back to the river valleys of ancient times. Archaeological evidences from ancient Iraq tells us that the date
palm was cultivated in the Arabia as early as 5000 B.C.

Date palms – they grow straight and single trunked – are found naturally in arid and semiarid habitats with seasonal rainfall, and are a staple food item and a main economic source for many countries in Northern Africa, South Asia and Middle East. The ripe, sugary fruits of the date palm can be consumed either fresh or dry and the dried date fruit – they
are perfect energy boosters as they retain a high level of sugar when dried – was an important food item for desert travelers and trade caravans of ancient times.

The dates, which is a cultural icon of the Middle East, is frequently eaten along with coffee or own their own. They are also used to make a variety of dishes, syrups and desserts. There are thousands of varieties of dates found across the globe with different tastes and textures. This fiber rich fruit has a wide range of health benefits like curing stomach upsets, promoting digestion, strengthening bones, boosting heart health, increasing weight gain and improving skin health.

Dates and Ramadan

The date palm is mentioned frequently in The Holy Quran. During Ramadan, the soft, sweet and energy rich date fruits are an integral part of the Ifthar meal, as traditionally, the dates are eaten to break the daily Ramadan fast at sunset. Since the Ramadan fasting lasts from sunrise to sunset, the dates, which is an excellent source for protein, sugar, dietary potassium, magnesium and loads of carbohydrates, help the body to prevent and recover from problems like low blood sugar and lethargy.

Eating dates after fasting also promotes the secretion of digestive juices and helps in better digestion and avoiding an upset stomach.

Learn some cool facts about dates!

1. According to fossil records, the date palms have been on Earth at least from the last 50 million years.
2. The English name for the fruit, date comes from the Greek word dáktulos, meaning ‘finger’, because of the elongated shape of the fruit.
3. The top five date producing nations are Egypt, Iran, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
4. When stored properly, the dates have a shelf life of months and even years.
5. Date palms cover about 3% of Earth’s cultivated surface.