How to Choose Good Dates: A Simple Buyer's Guide
Dates look simple, but quality varies a lot between lots. A few quick checks will help you pick fruit that is fresh, soft and full of flavour.
Look at the colour and shape
- The fruit should be plump and fairly uniform in colour for its variety. Ajwa is very dark, Sukkari is golden, Medjool is a deep amber-brown.
- A slightly wrinkled skin is normal, especially in Medjool. Deep cracks, wet patches or dull, shrivelled fruit are not.
- Avoid boxes where the dates are all stuck together in a wet clump.
Feel the texture
Fresh dates give slightly when pressed, without feeling mushy or leaking. Some dates develop tiny sugar crystals on the skin. This is natural and harmless, and the date is still good to eat.
Smell and taste
Good dates smell sweet and fruity. A sour, fermented or musty smell means the fruit has been stored badly. If you can, taste one: it should be sweet, with a clean finish.
Check for damage
Look for tiny holes, webbing or powder, which can be signs of insects. Buy from a seller who sorts the fruit and stores it in a cool place.
Match the date to the purpose
- Breaking a fast or gifting: Ajwa or Medjool.
- Everyday snacking: Sukkari, Safawi or Kalmi.
- Cooking and baking: Kalmi or Mabroom, which hold their shape well.
At Al Munawer, every lot of dates is sorted by hand before it is packed, so you get fruit of even size and quality.