- Muslims break fast with nutritious, traditional dates at Ramadan
- Dates are rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and natural sugars
- Global date production, cultivation regions, and boycotts discussed
During the Muslim sacred month of Ramadan, as the sun sets, numerous adherents break their fasts with a sweet, dried fruit with an ancient history in the region.
To attain a higher state of “taqwa,” or awareness of God, able-bodied, devout Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations during daylight hours for the duration of these 29 to 30 days.
Breaking a fast with dates and water is a practice that originates from the Quran and is explicitly referenced for its nutritional value, as per the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
Dried or fresh, dates are rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Furthermore, they are rich in antioxidants.
Dates provide an abundant supply of fructose, an inherent sugar present in fruits, which renders them an exceptional energy source, particularly following an extended fasting period.
Dates come in a wide variety of varieties, each with its distinct flavour and texture:
Medjool is distinguished by its substantial size, enticing sweetness, amber hue, and luscious flavour.
Fewer fragrant than other dates, marrow dates are elongated, have a reddish-brown hue, and are chewy.
Among the most venerated dates among Muslims, Ajwa is extremely sweet, has a fleshy, soft, and almost juicy texture, and is cultivated in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Deglet Noor is suitable for baking and cooking, medium in size and lighter in hue.
Piarom are distinguished by their darker skin, rich flavour, minor dryness, and distinctive flavour.
Date-related topics of interest
The cultivation of dates dates back thousands of years. The female date palm plant bears fruit, but male date palm trees do not produce fruit.
Each harvest season, a mature date palm can yield over 100 kilogrammes (220 pounds), or approximately 10,000 dates.
The Ajwa date is renowned worldwide for its exorbitant cost.
Leading creators of dates
Tridge, a database on food and agriculture, estimates that approximately 10 billion kilogrammes (22 billion pounds) of dates will be produced globally in 2022.
Dates typically flourish in regions characterised by extended, scorching summers, such as the Middle East and adjacent areas.
Egypt is the foremost date producer globally, supplying 18 per cent, or nearly one-fifth, of the world’s dates, as reported by Tridge.
I follow Saudi Arabia with nearly 17% in Algeria, which is in the top three with a rate of 13%.
The following infographic illustrates the origins of the majority of the world’s dates:
The rejection of Israeli dates
According to Tridge, Israel is one of the largest exporters globally, selling $330 million of Medjool dates overseas in 2022.
Over 32,000 people have been killed as a result of Israel’s nearly six-month assault on Gaza. In response, several organisations have called for a boycott of products associated with Israel.
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The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS), an initiative founded by Palestinians, aims to contest global backing for Israeli apartheid and settler colonialism, as characterised by the BDS.
BDS has encouraged consumers always to check labels and avoid purchasing dates manufactured or packaged in Israel or its occupied West Bank settlements, as this violates international law.
