 |
 |
|
The fruit of the date palm (Phoenix
dactylifera), one of the oldest cultivated
tree crops. It provides a staple food for many
populations in the Middle East and North Africa,
and also is highly valued for feed, fiber, and
shelter.The date palm is in the family
Palmaceae. Phoenix is distinguished from
other palm species by the production of
offshoots, columnar-circular trunks, pinnate
leaves, and distinctively furrowed seeds. Date
palms are monocotyledons and have a single bud
or growing point. The date trunk also lacks the
cambium growth layer typically found in
dicotyledon fruit trees, which is important for
true secondary growth.The date palm species is dioecious: male
palms produce
staminate flowers and female palms produce
pistillate flowers. Both male and female
flower clusters are enclosed in protective
sheaths. Bees and insects go to the male flowers
but not to the female blooms. The date palm is
dependent on humans for pollination. Pollen from
the staminate flowers must be collected and
manually applied to the pistallate
inflorescence every season for commercial
date production. Windblown pollination results
in poor fruit set and in fruit that do not
mature properly. One male tree can provide
enough pollen for 30–40 female trees. Because
the inner layer of the fruit wall is fleshy, the
date fruit is classified as a berry, like a
tomato. See also
Arecales;
Fruit;
Fruit, treeWith a history stretching
back over 5,000 years, this venerable fruit
grows in thick clusters on the giant date palm,
native to the
Middle East. The name is thought to come
from the Greek daktulos, meaning
"finger," after the shape of the fruit. Dates
require a hot, dry climate and-besides Africa
and the Middle East-flourish in California and
Arizona. Most varieties range from 1 to 2 inches
long and are oval in shape (though some are so
chunky they're almost round). All dates have
a single, long, narrow seed. The skin is thin
and
papery, the flesh
cloyingly sweet. Dates are green when
unripe and turn yellow, golden brown, black
or
mahogany red-depending on the variety-as
they ripen. They're generally picked green and
ripened off the tree before drying. When
fresh, dates contain about 55 percent sugar, a
percentage that increases dramatically as the
date dries and the sugar becomes concentrated.
Fresh dates are available in some specialty
markets from late summer through midfall. Dried
dates are available year-round and are sold
packaged-pitted and unpitted-and in bulk,
unpitted. Chopped dried dates are also available
in packages. Choose plump, soft dates with a
smooth, shiny skin. Avoid very
shriveled dates or those with mold or sugar
crystals on the skin. Store fresh dates, wrapped
in a plastic bag, in the refrigerator up to 2
weeks. Dried dates can be stored, airtight, at
room temperature in a cool, dry place for up to
6 months or up to a year in the refrigerator.
Dates are a good source of protein and iron |
 |
Iran is one of the largest producers of dates in
the world.
It is annual production is about one million
tons in over 400 varieties.About 15 varieties are exportable and well known
in the world markets.
Growing: Iranian dates organically are growing,
harvesting and processed
without using any chemical, fertilizer,
pesticides or preservative.Harvesting: It is depending to the varieties,
starts from August andlast the end of October.We are pleased to
introduce our selection of some ofthe best varieties of Iranian dates as follows: |
 |
|
About 400
varieties of dates are cultivated in Iran, but
only some of them, mentioned bellow, because
their tastes compose the major kinds.
|
Sayer Date: This
semi-dried date grows in the khozestan
region. The coloring of this kind is
dark brown and it is purchased by many
countries.
|
 |
|
Piarom Date (piyarom): This
semi-dried grows in Hormozgan region.
The coloring of this kind is dark brown
and it has a unique taste. The skin of
piarom date is thin. The piarom date has
a kind of sugar which is acceptable for
diabetic people.
|
 |
|
Zahedi Date: This
dried date grows in Fars and Khozestan
regions. The coloring of this variety is
yellow. The zahedi date is used for
industrial purpose because of its high
sugar content.
|
 |
|
Kabkab Date: This
fresh date grows in Fars regions. The
coloring of this variety is black and
its taste is very delicious.
|
 |
|
Mazafati Date: This
fresh date grows in Kerman region. The
coloring of this kind variety is black
and its taste is very delicious.
|
 |
|
 |
|
Name |
maturity |
shape |
color |
sugar content |
|
Barhi |
Sept. |
Round |
Yellow |
75% |
|
Ferssi |
Sept. |
Thin |
Dark Brown |
70% |
|
Gantar |
Oct. |
Thin |
Brown |
70% |
|
Sayer |
Sept. |
Long |
Brown |
70% |
|
Khazravi |
Sept. |
Thin |
Brown |
70% |
|
Zahedi |
Oct. |
Short and Thick |
Light Brown |
65% |
|
Dayri |
Oct. |
Long |
Brown to Red |
75% |
|
Hallavi |
Sept. |
Thick |
Light Brown |
75% |
|
Mazafati |
Sept. |
Thick |
Black |
----- |
|
Kabkab |
Sept. |
Thick |
Brown to Dark Brown |
----- |
|
Piarom |
Oct. |
Long |
Black |
80% |
|
Rabbi |
Oct. |
Long |
Black |
80% |
|
 |
|
1. 1.dates are loaded with the
energy you need every day - to win a marathon or
get you through a tough day. With only 24
calories per date (248 per 100 gram serving),
dates are high in dietary fiber, carbohydrates,
and contain more potassium than bananas! Yet
they are virtually fat, cholesterol and sodium
free!
2. Dates provide essential vitamins and minerals
- such as B-complex vitamins, magnesium and
iron. Only a handful of dates - five or six -
will help you meet your 5-A-Day goal for fruit.
3. A handful of dates will help you meet the
5-A-Day goal. Five to six delicious California
dates or a cup of chopped dates equals one
serving. Great tasting, power-packed California
dates are part of the USDA Pyramid's food group.
Eating California dates can help you achieve the
recommended goal for fruit servings each day.
4. The American Cancer Society recommends that
you consume 20-35 grams of dietary fiber a day.
Dietary fiber comes in two forms - soluble and
insoluble. Each serves a valuable function.
Insoluble fiber increased the rate at which food
moves through the digestive system. Soluble
fiber may help control diabetes by decreasing
elevated blood glucose levels. Soluble fiber
also had been found to help lower serum
cholesterol levels, particularly undesirable
loud density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
California dates are a good source of dietary
fiber. A serving of power-packed California
dates - just 5 to 6 six dates - can provide 3
grams of dietary fiber. That's 14 percent of
your recommended daily value.
5. A serving of power-packed California dates
contains 31 grams of carbohydrates, making them
a powerhouse of energy. Carbohydrates include 3
grams of dietary fiber and 29 grams of naturally
occurring sugars such as fructose, glucose and
sucrose to provide quick energy and are readily
used by the body. California dates are a perfect
energy boosting snack.
6. Ounce per ounce, pound for pound, California
dates are one of the best natural sources of
potassium. Potassium is an essential mineral
your body needs to maintain muscle contractions
including the vital heart muscle. Potassium is
needed to maintain a healthy nervous system and
to balance the body's metabolism. Since
potassium is not stored in the body, and much is
lost in perspiration, it must be continually
replenished. As you consume potassium you
excrete sodium, helping to keep blood pressure
down. As people age, their kidneys become less
efficient at eliminating sodium. About a 400 mg
increase in potassium intake has been associated
with a 40% reduction in the risk of stroke. This
roughly amounts to one additional serving daily
of California dates.
7. Eating California dates and drinking water is
an ideal, natural way to replenish the
potassium. A serving of California dates contain
240 milligrams of potassium or 7% of the
recommended daily value. Bite for bite, they
have three times the amount of potassium as
bananas!
8. California dates contain a variety of
B-complex vitamins - thiamin, riboflavin,
niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid. These
vitamins have a variety of functions that help
maintain a healthy body - to metabolize
carbohydrates and maintain blood glucose levels,
fatty acids for energy, and they help make
hemoglobin, the red and white blood cells.
9.Magnesium is essential for healthy bone
development and for energy metabolism. One
serving of California dates provides 4% of the
suggested daily intake of magnesium. Iron is
essential to red blood cell production. Red
blood cells carry all the nutrients to cells
throughout the body. One serving of California
dates contains nearly a third of the Recommended
Dietary Allowance for iron.
|
 |
|
Serving Size 50g (~1.8 oz.)
(Approx. 9.1 Servings/Pound)
|
|
Amount Per Serving |
|
Calories
141 |
Calories From Fat
1.5 |
|
% Daily Value * |
|
Total Fat
0g |
1% |
|
Saturated Fat 1.5g |
0% |
|
Cholesterol
0mg |
0% |
|
Sodium
190mg |
0% |
|
Total Carbohydrate
9g |
13% |
|
Dietary Fiber 3g |
16% |
|
Sugars 2g |
|
|
Protein
6g |
|
|
Vitamin A 0% |
Vitamin C 1% |
|
Calcium 2% |
Iron 3% |
|
** Contains less than 2 percent of the
Daily Value of these nutrients. |
|
* Percent Daily Values are based on a
2,000 calorie diet. |
|
|
|
|
|
