Dates

Dates grow on giant date palm trees that can reach heights of approximately 100 feet. This fruit grows in rich red to golden brown clusters that weigh about 20 pounds, each containing up to two hundred dates. There are usually twelve to fifteen clusters or bunches per tree, and a healthy tree can produce as much as three hundred pounds of dates per harvest.

High temperature, low humidity and deep soil are the ideal conditions for dates, so it's not surprising that 75 percent of the world's date crop is grown in the Middle East, with Iraq the leading regional and world producer. Iran and Saudi Arabia are also major worldwide producers. In the United States, California's Coachella Valley produces 95 percent of America's domestic crop.

There are about thirty varieties of dates grown in California and they are divided into two broad categories: soft and semi-soft or semidry. The soft varieties harvested by hand, when still soft and ripe, have a high moisture content, lots of sugar, and a mild flavor. Soft varieties are mostly consumed fresh, as snacks. They are also used in cooking because chefs like to use them in sauces because they break down and caramelize.

Semidry dates are the most common type grown in the United States, and are a firm date with a lower moisture content than soft dates. As a result they can be mechanically harvested and have a longer shelf life.

Selection & Storage
Dates are sold several different ways: with and without pits, fresh, dried, or cured. Whole and pitted dates are normally sold in plastic cups or tubs in 8 ounce, 12 ounce, 24 ounce, or 32 ounce sizes. In specialty stores, particularly Middle Eastern markets, figs are sometimes sold loose.

It's not easy to properly select dates when they are packaged in plastic or cellophane. Both fresh and dried dates should be glossy and plump with a little wrinkling on their smooth skins. Their skins should not be broken, cracked, or shriveled. Avoid fruit with an aroma of sour milk or those with crystallized sugar on the surface. Dried dates should be firm but not hard.

If packaged in an airtight container, fresh dates will last from one to eight months without refrigeration, three to twelve months if refrigerated, and up to several years if frozen. Store dates in the back of your refrigerator where temperatures are usually around 30�F to 40�F. It is also important to store dates away from strong smelling foods because they will absorb odors easily. Dried dates have been pasteurized to inhibit the growth of mold and will keep more than a year under refrigeration and up to five years in the freezer.

Preparation
For easy slicing, separate the dates from each other and put them in the freezer for about an hour to firm up. Once firm, they will cut easily with a sharp knife. If your dates are more dried than you'd like, soak them briefly in warm water.

Dates are a wonderful accent to savory dishes such as stews. Some people find them a little too sweet since they contain about 55 percent sugar which increases dramatically as the dates dry and the sugar concentrates. To reduce some of the sweetness, add some acidity such as citrus juice or something spicy such as hot pepper.

Dates are delicious with pork and lamb and they can enhance poultry stuffing. Chopped dates add a nice flavor accent to vegetables such as carrots and to chicken salads. Dates and other dried fruits are also good companions to fresh fruit such as in a mixed fruit salad, with perhaps some chopped walnuts or almonds as well.

Tony's Tip
Because they lose so much moisture when they fly, airline pilots routinely eat dried dates to replace potassium. So bring along some dates if you're planning a long plane ride.

Tony's Favorite Recipe
Stuffed Medjool Dates

Varieties
Halawy is an oblong date from Iraq with a golden to light amber color. It is rich and sweet.

Khadrawy is a green date from Iraq with a pleasantly rich flavor and smooth texture.

Medjool was originally imported from Morocco but is now grown in the United States. In fact, because of the batud disease in Morocco, U.S. growers have been sending Medjool trees to Morocco. The Medjool has become a more important variety in California in recent years and is the largest variety (in size) grown. It is very soft with a rich, sweet flavor.

Semidry Varieties
Deglet Noor is the most widely available semidry variety. It has a dark amber color, firm flesh, high sugar content, and caramel like flavor.

Zahidi is small to medium in size with a reddish-brown color and rich, sweet taste.

Barhee a lesser known variety that is prized by Middle Eastern �migr�s. It is green and sweet.

Chinese Dates or Jujube are not really a variety of dates. They are not even from the same botanical family even though they strongly resemble a true date.

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