Definition
Sweet, nutritious fruit from the date palm.
Details
Dates are the fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world, grown for more than 5,000 years. Rich in natural sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose), potassium, magnesium and dietary fibre, they are a dense, natural source of energy. The Medjool and Deglet Nour varieties are the most prized for their melting flesh and caramel notes. In Islamic tradition the date is the fruit used to break the fast (iftar) during Ramadan, which makes it a high-demand product in the Comoros. They pair equally well with chocolate, nuts or cheese and with meat dishes in sauce.