Dates Article

DATES TRADITIONAL FIRST MEAL Dates have been a staple food of the Middle East for thousands of years. They believed to have originated around the Persian Gulf and have been cultivated since ancients times from Mesopotamia to ‘prehistoric Egypt, possibly as early as 4000 BC. There is archaeological evidence of the date cultivation in the eastern Arabia in 6000 BC In Later time Arabs spread dates around South and South East Asia, North Africa and Spain. The Spaniards introduce dates in Mexico and California by 1765. Dates are most important traditional crop in Iraq, Arabia and North Africa west to Morocco and Dates (especially Medjool and Deglet Noor) are also cultivated in southern California and Arizona in United States. Dates mentioned in places in Quran. In Islamic countries dates and yogurt or sometime milk area traditional first meal when the sun sets in Ramzan. 1. FRUIT

The fruit is drupe known as date. They are oval cylindrical, 3-7 cm long and 2-3 cm diameter, and when unripe, range from bright yellow in color, depending on variety. Date contain a single seed about 2-2.5 cm long and 6-8 mm thick. Three main cultivars groups of the date exist; soft, semi dry, dry. The type of fruit depend on the glucose, fructose and sucrose content 2. MEDICAL VALUE

Dates have high tannin content and are used medicinally as a detersive (having cleansing power) and astringent in intestinal troubles. As an infusion, decoction, syrup, or paste, dates may be administered for sore throat, cold, bronchial catarrh and to relieve fever and number of other complaints. One traditional believes is that it can counteract alcohol intoxication. The seed powder is also used in traditional medicines. A gum that exudes from the wounded trunk is employed in India for treating diarrhea and genitor-urinary ailments. The roots are used to combat against toothache. 3. NUTRITIONAL VALUE

Date palm is well known for its nutritional and therapeutic qualities. Its is very high fruit content of carbohydrates’ (about 65-75 %). In addition, the fruit is easily digestible, promotes more blood formation and also possesses protein, fats, salts, carbohydrates and vitamins in an easily assimilative form. The fruits are good source of vitamin A, B and C and have high mineral content. Dried date contain 1.9 % protein, 70.6% carbohydrates, 2.5% fat, 13% water, 1.2% minerals and 10% fiber.

A 100-gram portion of fresh dates is a premium source of vitamin C and supplies 280 kcal (1180 kJ) energy. Since dates contain relatively little water, they do not become much more concentrated upon drying, although vitamin C is lost in the process. Chewy bread dates keep longer and can be used for “survival food” on long trips Nutritional value per 100g Energy Carbohydrates Sugar Dietary Fiber Fat Protein Water Vitamin Manganese

280 Kcal 75 g 62 g 8g 0.4 g 2.5 g 21 g 0.4 mg 0.262 mg

4. FOOD USES

Dry and soft dates are eaten out of hand, or may be pitted and stuffed with fillings such as almonds, walnuts, candied orange and leman peel, marzipan or cream cheese. Pitted dates are also preferred to as stoned dates. Dates can also be chopped and to be used in the range of sweets and savoury dishes, from tajines (tagines) in morocco to puddings, in Arab breads and cakes and other dessert items. Dates are also processed in to cubes, paste, spread, dates, syrups and or Honey called “dibs” powder (Date sugar), Vinegar or alcohol. Recent innovation includes chocolatescovered with dates and product such as sparkling date juice, used in some Islamic countries, for especially and religious occasions such as Ramzan. Dates can also be dehydrated, grounded and mixed with grain to form a nutritious stock feed. Dried dates are feed to camels, horses and dogs in Sahara. Young dates leave are cooked and eaten as a vegetable, as is the terminal bud or heart, though its remove kill the palm. The finely ground seeds are mixed with flour to make bread in the time of scarcity. The flower of the date palm is also edible. Traditionally the female flowers are the most available foe sale and weight 300-400 g. The flower buds are used in salad or ground with dried fish to make a condiment for bread. In India, Africa and Ghana date palms are tapped for the sweet sap, which is converted into palm sugar know as jaggery or gur. Date seeds are soaked and ground up for animal feed. Their oil is suitable for use in soap and cosmetics. They can also be processed chemically as a source of oxalic acid. The seeds are also burned to make charcoal for silversmiths. Date seed are also ground and used in the manner of coffee beans or as an additive to coffee

5. FUNCTIONAL ITEMS

Dates palms are commonly used to make huts. Mature leaves are also made into mats, screen, baskets and fans. Processed leaves can be used for insulating boards. Dried leaves petioles are the source of cellulose pulp, used for walking sticks, brooms, fishing floats and fuels. Leaf sheaths are prized for their scent and fiber from them is also used for rope, coarse cloth, and large hats. Stripped fruit clusters are used as brooms. In Pakistan, viscous, thick syrup made from the ripe fruits is used as coating for leather bags and pipes to prevent leaking Date palm wood is used for post and rafter for huts: it is lighter than coconut but is not durable. It is also used for construction such as bridges and aqueducts, and parts of dhows. Leftover wood is brunt for fuel. 6. DATE PALM TREE

The date palm is dioeciously, having separate male and female plants. They can easily be grown from seed, but only 50% of seedling will be female and hence fruits bearing. Most commercial plantations thus use cutting of heavily cropping cultivars, mainly Medjool as these cultivars produces particularly high yields of large, sweets fruits. Plants grown from cutting will fruits 2-3 years earlier than seedling plants. Dates are naturally wind pollinated, but in both traditional oasis horticulture and in the modern commercial orchards they are entirely pollinated manually. Natural pollination occurs with about equal number of male and female plants. However with assistance, one male can polonaise up to 100 females. Since the males are of valve only as polarize, this allows the grower to use their resources for many fruits producing female plants. Some growers do not even maintain any male plant become available at the local market at pollination time. Manual pollination is done by the skilled labors on the ladders or in some areas such as Iraq they climb the tree using special climbing tool that wraps around the tree trunk and the climber’s back to keep him attached to the trunk while climbing. Less often the pollen be blown onto the female flowers by the wind machine. Dates cultivars are classified as soft, semi-soft and dry or bread date. Dates ripen in four stages which are known through out the world by their Arabic name Kimri (unripe), Khalal (Full sized), rutab (riped, soft) tamr (riped, sun dried) Date palms can take 4-7 years after planting before they will bear fruits and produce viable yield for commercial harvest between 7-10 years. Pakistan exports fresh dates to Bangladesh, Canada, Demarks, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Srilanka the USA, the UK and dried dates to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India and Japan. Dates have sufficient shelf –life and are thus shipped to sea.