date palm#Fruit

Date palms reach up to {{convert|30|m|ft|-1|abbr=off}} in height, growing singly or forming a clump with several stems from a single root system. Slow-growing, they can reach over 100 years of age when maintained properly. The roots have pneumatodes.{{cite journal |last1=Belarbi-Halli |first1=R. |last2=Mangenot |first2=F. |date=1986-08-01 |title=Bayoud disease of date palm: ultrastructure of root infection through pneumatodes |journal=Canadian Journal of Botany |volume=64 |issue=8 |pages=1703–1711 |doi=10.1139/b86-228 |bibcode=1986CaJB...64.1703B |issn=0008-4026}} The leaves are {{convert|4|-|6|m|ft|abbr=on}} long, with spines on the petiole, and pinnate, with about 150 leaflets. The leaflets are {{convert|30|cm|in|0|abbr=off}} long and {{convert|2|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} wide. The full span of the crown ranges from {{convert|6|-|10|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

The date palm is dioecious, having separate male and female plants. Like all members of genus Phoenix, sex determination occurs through an XY sex-determination system, where three genes that are conserved in all males and absent in all females have been identified.[https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.634901/full Evidence of Recombination Suppression Blocks on the Y Chromosome of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)] They can be easily grown from seed, but only 50% of seedlings will be female and hence fruit-bearing, and dates from seedling plants are often smaller and of poorer quality. Most commercial plantations thus use cuttings of heavily cropping cultivars. Plants grown from cuttings will fruit 2–3 years earlier than seedling plants.

File:דקל תמר מצוי חתך גזע דמוי עץ (3).jpg, date palms do not produce annual tree rings.]]

File:Phoenix dactylifera 0zz.jpg

Dates are naturally wind-pollinated, but in traditional oasis horticulture and modern commercial orchards, they are entirely hand-pollinated. Natural pollination occurs with about an equal number of male and female plants. With assistance, one male can pollinate up to 100 females. Since the males are of value only as pollinators, they are usually pruned in favor of fruit-producing female plants. Some growers do not maintain male plants, as male flowers become available at local markets at pollination time. Manual pollination is done by skilled labourers on ladders, or by use of a wind machine. In some areas, such as Iraq, the pollinator climbs the tree using a special climbing tool that wraps around the tree trunk and the climber's back (called {{lang|ar|تبلية}} in Arabic) to keep him attached to the trunk while climbing.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Date fruits are oval-cylindrical, {{convert|3|-|7|cm|abbr=on|in|frac=2}} long, and {{convert|2|-|3|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} diameter, and when ripe, range from bright red to bright yellow in colour, depending on variety. Dates contain a single stone (seed) about {{convert|2|-|2.5|cm|in|frac=8|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|6|-|8|mm|in|abbr=on|frac=32}} thick. Three main cultivar groups exist: soft (e.g., Medjool); semi-dry (e.g., Deglet Noor), and dry (e.g., Thoory).{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

File:Germination of Date Palm.jpg

A draft genome of P. dactylifera (Khalas variety) was published in 2011{{Cite journal |last1=Al-Dous |first1=Eman K. |last2=George |first2=Binu |last3=Al-Mahmoud |first3=Maryam E. |last4=Al-Jaber |first4=Moneera Y. |last5=Wang |first5=Hao |last6=Salameh |first6=Yasmeen M. |last7=Al-Azwani |first7=Eman K. |last8=Chaluvadi |first8=Srinivasa |last9=Pontaroli |first9=Ana C. |last10=DeBarry |first10=Jeremy |last11=Arondel |first11=Vincent |last12=Ohlrogge |first12=John |last13=Saie |first13=Imad J. |last14=Suliman-Elmeer |first14=Khaled M. |last15=Bennetzen |first15=Jeffrey L. |date=June 2011 |title=De novo genome sequencing and comparative genomics of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) |journal=Nature Biotechnology |language=en |publication-date=2011 |volume=29 |issue=6 |pages=521–527 |doi=10.1038/nbt.1860 |issn=1546-1696|doi-access=free |pmid=21623354 }} followed by more complete genome assemblies in 2013{{Cite journal |last1=Al-Mssallem |first1=Ibrahim S. |last2=Hu |first2=Songnian |last3=Zhang |first3=Xiaowei |last4=Lin |first4=Qiang |last5=Liu |first5=Wanfei |last6=Tan |first6=Jun |last7=Yu |first7=Xiaoguang |last8=Liu |first8=Jiucheng |last9=Pan |first9=Linlin |last10=Zhang |first10=Tongwu |last11=Yin |first11=Yuxin |last12=Xin |first12=Chengqi |last13=Wu |first13=Hao |last14=Zhang |first14=Guangyu |last15=Ba Abdullah |first15=Mohammed M. |date=2013-08-06 |title=Genome sequence of the date palm Phoenix dactylifera L |journal=Nature Communications |language=en |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=2274 |doi=10.1038/ncomms3274 |issn=2041-1723 |pmc=3741641 |pmid=23917264|bibcode=2013NatCo...4.2274A }} and 2019. The later study used long-read sequencing technology. With the release of this improved genome assembly, the researchers were able to map genes for fruit color and sugar content.{{cite journal | doi=10.1038/s41467-019-12604-9 | title=Genome-wide association mapping of date palm fruit traits | year=2019 | last1=Hazzouri | first1=Khaled M. | last2=Gros-Balthazard | first2=Muriel | last3=Flowers | first3=Jonathan M. | last4=Copetti | first4=Dario | last5=Lemansour | first5=Alain | last6=Lebrun | first6=Marc | last7=Masmoudi | first7=Khaled | last8=Ferrand | first8=Sylvie | last9=Dhar | first9=Michael I. | last10=Fresquez | first10=Zoë A. | last11=Rosas | first11=Ulises | last12=Zhang | first12=Jianwei | last13=Talag | first13=Jayson | last14=Lee | first14=Seunghee | last15=Kudrna | first15=David | last16=Powell | first16=Robyn F. | last17=Leitch | first17=Ilia J. | last18=Krueger | first18=Robert R. | last19=Wing | first19=Rod A. | last20=Amiri | first20=Khaled M. A. | last21=Purugganan | first21=Michael D. | journal=Nature Communications | volume=10 | issue=1 | page=4680 | pmid=31615981 | pmc=6794320 | bibcode=2019NatCo..10.4680H }} The NYU Abu Dhabi researchers had also re-sequenced the genomes of several date varieties to develop the first single nucleotide polymorphism map of the date palm genome in 2015.{{cite journal | doi=10.1038/ncomms9824 | title=Whole genome re-sequencing of date palms yields insights into diversification of a fruit tree crop | year=2015 | last1=Hazzouri | first1=Khaled M. | last2=Flowers | first2=Jonathan M. | last3=Visser | first3=Hendrik J. | last4=Khierallah | first4=Hussam S. M. | last5=Rosas | first5=Ulises | last6=Pham | first6=Gina M. | last7=Meyer | first7=Rachel S. | last8=Johansen | first8=Caryn K. | last9=Fresquez | first9=Zoë A. | last10=Masmoudi | first10=Khaled | last11=Haider | first11=Nadia | last12=El Kadri | first12=Nabila | last13=Idaghdour | first13=Youssef | last14=Malek | first14=Joel A. | last15=Thirkhill | first15=Deborah | last16=Markhand | first16=Ghulam S. | last17=Krueger | first17=Robert R. | last18=Zaid | first18=Abdelouahhab | last19=Purugganan | first19=Michael D. | journal=Nature Communications | volume=6 | page=8824 | pmid=26549859 | pmc=4667612 | bibcode=2015NatCo...6.8824H }}

The species name dactylifera 'date-bearing' is Latin, and is formed with the loanword {{lang|la|dactylus}} in Latin from Greek {{lang|grc-Latn|daktylos}} ({{lang|grc|δάκτυλος}}), which means 'date' (also 'finger'),{{LSJ|da/ktulos|δάκτυλος|ref}} and with the native Latin {{lang|la|fero}}, which means 'to bear'.{{L&S|fero|fĕro|ref}} The fruit is known as a date."Date Palm". 15 October 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. The fruit's English name (through Old French, through Latin) comes from the Greek word for 'finger', {{lang|grc|δάκτυλος}}, because of the fruit's elongated shape.

The variety Phoenix dactylifera var. jubae, now considered a synonym for P. canairensis, was named after King Juba II.{{Cite journal |last=Briones |first=Julià Molero |last2=Pereira |first2=Trinidad Arcos |last3=Carrasco |first3=María Dolores García de Paso |last4=Reyes-Betancort |first4=Jorge Alfredo |last5=Santos‐Guerra |first5=Arnoldo |last6=Jestrow |first6=Brett |last7=Francisco‐Ortega |first7=Javier |date=2025-04-30 |title=On the Macaronesian endemic woody spurge Euphorbia regis‐jubae Webb & Berthel. and eponyms honouring the Numidian King Juba II (48 BCE –23/24 CE) |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134297198 |journal=Curtis's Botanical Magazine |doi=10.1111/CURT.12623}}

The place of origin of the date palm is uncertain because of long cultivation. According to some sources it probably originated from the Fertile Crescent region straddling Egypt and Mesopotamia{{cite web | last=Krueger | first=Robert R | title=Date Palm Genetic Resource Conservation, Breeding, Genetics, And Genomics In California | publisher=The Conference Exchange | url=https://pag.confex.com/pag/xx/recordingredirect.cgi/id/137 | format=PDF | access-date=2018-03-26 | archive-date=8 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408151051/https://pag.confex.com/recording/pag/xx/pdf/free/4db77adf5df9fff0d3caf5cafe28f496/paper1427_1.pdf | url-status=live }} while others state that they are native to the Persian Gulf area.{{Cite web|url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/date-palm|access-date=2021-03-06|website=iranicaonline.org|title=Date palm|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418045821/https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/date-palm|url-status=live}} Fossil records show that the date palm has existed for at least 50 million years.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15282847|title=Medjool: A Date to Remember|date=17 October 2007|work=NPR|access-date=19 April 2015|archive-date=31 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331115916/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15282847|url-status=live}}

File:Dubas sootymould2.jpg, Oman]]

{{Further|List of date palm diseases}}

A major palm pest, the red palm beetle (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), currently poses a significant threat to date production in parts of the Middle East as well as to iconic landscape specimens throughout the Mediterranean world. Another significant insect pest is Ommatissus lybicus, sometimes called the "dubas bug", whose sap sucking results in sooty mould formation.

In the 1920s, eleven healthy Medjool palms were transferred from Morocco to the United States where they were tended by members of the Chemehuevi tribe{{which|date=January 2015}} in a remote region of Nevada. Nine of these survived and in 1935, cultivars were transferred to the U.S. Date Garden in Indio, California. Eventually this stock was reintroduced to Africa and led to the U.S. production of dates in Yuma, Arizona and Bard, California.{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Lee |date=25 April 2014 |title=How One Indian Couple Saved 'The Fruit of Kings' |work=Indian Country News |url=https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/how-one-indian-couple-saved-the-fruit-of-kings |access-date=2021-11-02 |archive-date=2 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102163119/https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/how-one-indian-couple-saved-the-fruit-of-kings |url-status=live }}

Dates are a traditional crop throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Dates (especially Medjool and Deglet Nour) are also cultivated in the southwestern United States, and in Sonora and Baja California in Mexico.

Date palms can take 4 to 8 years after planting before they will bear fruit, and start producing viable yields for commercial harvest between 7 and 10 years. Mature date palms can produce {{convert|150|-|300|lb|kg|order=flip|abbr=off|-1}}{{cite web|url=http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/GEPTS/pb143/CROP/DATE/date.htm|title=The Date, Phoenix dactylifera|access-date=19 April 2015|archive-date=23 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323050415/http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/gepts/pb143/CROP/Date/Date.htm|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ho/2002/sp0212.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ho/2002/sp0212.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title = Publications | Extension | University of Nevada, Reno}} of dates per harvest season. They do not all ripen at the same time so several harvests are required. To obtain fruit of marketable quality, the bunches of dates must be thinned and bagged or covered before ripening so that the remaining fruits grow larger and are protected from weather and animals, such as birds, that also like to eat them.

Date palms require well-drained deep sandy loam soils with a pH of 8–11 (alkaline). The soil should have the ability to hold moisture and also be free of calcium carbonate.{{Cite web |title=Date Palm – Phoenix dactylifera |url=https://www.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/PalmPhoenixDactiliferaFruitipedia.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406053205/https://www.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/PalmPhoenixDactiliferaFruitipedia.htm |archive-date=6 April 2019 |access-date=2019-04-06 |website=www.growables.org}}

Dates have been cultivated in the Middle East and the Indus Valley for thousands of years, and there is archaeological evidence of date cultivation in Mehrgarh, a Neolithic civilization in western Pakistan, around 7000 BCE{{cite book |last1=Kenoyer |first1=Jonathan Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7CjvF88iEE8C&pg=PP1 |title=The Ancient South Asian World |last2=Heuston |first2=Kimberley Burton |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-19-522243-2 |series=The World in Ancient Times |access-date=30 July 2013}}{{Page needed|date=July 2013}} and in eastern Arabia between 5530 and 5320 calBC.{{cite journal |last1=Tengberg |first1=M. |date=November 2012 |title=Beginnings and early history of date palm garden cultivation in the Middle East |journal=Journal of Arid Environments |volume=86 |pages=139–147 |bibcode=2012JArEn..86..139T |doi=10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.11.022}} Dates have been cultivated since ancient times from Mesopotamia to prehistoric Egypt. The ancient Egyptians used the fruits to make date wine and ate dates at harvest.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} Evidence of cultivation is continually found throughout later civilizations in the Indus Valley, including the Harappan period from 2600 to 1900 BCE.

File:Mazafati dates - whole, halved and seed.jpg

One cultivar, the Judean date palm, is renowned for its long-lived orthodox seed, which successfully sprouted after accidental storage for 2,000 years.{{Cite news |last=Fountain |first=Henry |date=2008-06-17 |title=Date Seed of Masada is Oldest Ever to Sprout |newspaper=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/science/17obseed.html |access-date=9 December 2021 |archive-date=9 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209185228/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/science/17obseed.html |url-status=live }} In total seven seeds about 2000 years old have sprouted and turned into trees named Methuselah, Hannah, Adam, Judith, Boaz, Jonah and Uriel.{{Cite journal|title=Origins and insights into the historic Judean date palm based on genetic analysis of germinated ancient seeds and morphometric studies|first1=Sarah|last1=Sallon|first2=Emira|last2=Cherif|first3=Nathalie|last3=Chabrillange|first4=Elaine|last4=Solowey|first5=Muriel|last5=Gros-Balthazard|first6=Sarah|last6=Ivorra|first7=Jean-Frédéric|last7=Terral|first8=Markus|last8=Egli|first9=Frédérique|last9=Aberlenc|date=7 February 2020|journal=Science Advances|volume=6|issue=6|pages=eaax0384|doi=10.1126/sciadv.aax0384|pmid=32076636|pmc=7002127|bibcode=2020SciA....6..384S }} The upper survival time limit of properly stored seeds remains unknown.{{cite web |last=Bonner |first=Franklin T. |date=April 2008 |title=Chapter 4 Storage of Seeds |url=http://www.nsl.fs.fed.us/Chapter%204.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.nsl.fs.fed.us/Chapter%204.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |access-date=2008-06-21 |work=Woody Plant Seed Manual, USDA FS Agriculture Handbook 727 |publisher=National Seed Laboratory, 5675 Riggins Mill Rd, Dry Branch, GA 31020}} A genomic study from New York University Abu Dhabi Center for Genomics and Systems Biology showed that domesticated date palm varieties from North Africa, including well-known varieties such as Medjool and Deglet Nour, share large parts of their genome with Middle East date palms and the Cretan wild palms, P. theophrasti, as well as Indian wild palms, Phoenix sylvestris.

An article on date palm tree cultivation is contained in Ibn al-'Awwam's 12th-century agricultural work, Book on Agriculture.{{cite book |last=Ibn al-'Awwam |first=Yaḥyá |author-link=Ibn al-'Awwam |url=https://archive.org/details/lelivredelagric00algoog/page/n14/mode/2up |title=Le livre de l'agriculture d'Ibn-al-Awam (kitab-al-felahah) |publisher=A. Franck |year=1864 |location=Paris |pages=321–326 (ch. 7 – Article 43) |language=fr |translator=J.-J. Clement-Mullet |oclc=780050566}}

{{Main|List of date cultivars}}

A large number of date cultivars and varieties emerged through history of its cultivation, but the exact number is difficult to assess. Hussain and El-Zeid{{cite report|publisher=Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Saudi Arabia |year=1975 |title=Studies on physical and chemical characteristics of date varieties of Saudi Arabia |last1=Hussain |first1=Fazal |last2=El-Zeid |first2=A}} (1975) have reported 400 varieties, while Nixon{{cite journal|last=Nixon |first=R.W. |year=1954 |title=Date culture in Saudi Arabia |journal=Ann. Date Growers' Instit. |issue=31 |pages=15–20}} (1954) named around 250. Most of those are limited to a particular region, and only a few dozen have attained broader commercial importance. The most renowned cultivars worldwide include Deglet Noor, originally of Algeria; Yahidi and Hallawi of Iraq; Medjool of Morocco; Mazafati of Iran.{{cite book|first1=Jiwan S.|last1=Sidhu|editor-first1=Y. H.|editor-last1=Hui|editor-first2=József|editor-last2=Barta|editor-first3=M. Pilar|editor-last3=Cano|title=Handbook of Fruits and Fruit Processing|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vu8gsgLeW-YC&pg=PA396|chapter=22. Date Fruits Production and Processing|date=28 February 2008|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-27648-8|pages=396–|access-date=29 July 2021|archive-date=8 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408151130/https://books.google.com/books?id=Vu8gsgLeW-YC&pg=PA396|url-status=live}}

In 2022, world production of dates was 9.7 million tonnes, led by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria accounting for 46% of the total (table). In 2010, Atul Limited, a company based in India, announced plans to grow date palms in India on a large scale.{{Cite journal |last1=Rajmohan |first1=K. |last2=Mohanan |first2=B.N. |last3=Batra |first3=A.M. |date=December 2010 |title=Data palm development mission of Atul Ltd. in India |url=https://www.actahort.org/books/882/882_31.htm |journal=Acta Horticulturae |issue=882 |pages=289–292 |doi=10.17660/actahortic.2010.882.31 |issn=0567-7572}}

{{Nutritional value

| name = Dates, Deglet Noor

| image = Dattes deglet from Biskra.jpg

| caption = Deglet Noor dates

| kJ = 1180

| carbs = 75 g

| sugars = 63 g

| fiber = 8 g

| fat = 0.4 g

| protein = 2.4 g

| water = 20.5 g

| vitA_iu = 10

| betacarotene_ug = 6

| lutein_ug = 75

| thiamin_mg = 0.052

| riboflavin_mg = 0.066

| niacin_mg = 1.274

| pantothenic_mg = 0.589

| vitB6_mg = 0.165

| folate_ug = 19

| vitC_mg = 0.4

| vitE_mg = 0.05

| vitK_ug = 2.7

| calcium_mg = 39

| iron_mg = 1.02

| magnesium_mg = 43

| manganese_mg = 0.262

| phosphorus_mg = 62

| potassium_mg = 656

| sodium_mg = 2

| zinc_mg = 0.29

| note = [https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171726/nutrients Link to USDA Database entry]

}}

Date palm fruits contain 21% water, 75% carbohydrates (63% sugars and 8% dietary fiber), 2% protein, and less than 1% fat (table). In a {{convert|100|g|oz|frac=2|adj=on}} reference amount, dates supply {{convert|1180|kJ|kcal|abbr=off}} of food energy, and are a rich source (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV) of potassium (22% DV) and a moderate source of pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, and the dietary minerals magnesium and manganese (10–19% DV), with other micronutrients in low amounts (table).

The primary carbohydrates are monosaccharides, comprising glucose (23–30%), fructose (19–28%), and non-starch polysaccharides (7–10%) of the fruit's total weight.{{cite journal|journal=Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research|place=India|doi=10.7860/JCDR/2020/43026.13442|title=The Role of Date Palm Fruit in Improving Human Health|date=2020 |last1=Al-Mssallem |first1=Muneera Qassim |doi-access=free}} The sucrose content is negligible.{{cite journal |last=Yasawy |first=Mohammed I. |title=The unexpected truth about dates and hypoglycemia |journal=Journal of Family & Community Medicine |year=2016 |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=115–8 |doi=10.4103/2230-8229.181008 |pmc=4859097 |pmid=27186159 |doi-access=free }}

The glycemic index (GI) for different varieties of the date palm fruit is in the range of 38–71, with 53 on average,{{cite journal |last1=Alkaabi |first1=Juma M |last2=Al-Dabbagh |first2=Bayan |last3=Ahmad |first3=Shakeel |last4=Saadi |first4=Hussein F |last5=Gariballa |first5=Salah |last6=Ghazali |first6=Mustafa Al |date=2011-05-28 |title=Glycemic indices of five varieties of dates in healthy and diabetic subjects |journal=Nutrition Journal |volume=10 |issue=1 |page=59 |doi=10.1186/1475-2891-10-59 |issn=1475-2891 |pmc=3112406 |pmid=21619670 |doi-access=free }} indicating dates are a relatively low GI food source.{{cite journal |last1=Miller |first1=CJ |last2=Dunn |first2=EV |last3=Hashim |first3=IB |year=2002 |title=Glycemic index of 3 varieties of dates |journal=Saudi Medical Journal |volume=23 |issue=5 |pages=536–8 |pmid=12070575}} The glycemic load (GL) value of date palm fruits, calculated for a serving size of three fruits (weighting 27 grams) is 9 on average, indicating that dates have low GL.

{{Cookbook|Date}}

Dry or soft dates are eaten out-of-hand, or may be pitted and stuffed with fillings such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, candied orange and lemon peel, tahini, marzipan or cream cheese. Pitted dates are also referred to as stoned dates. Partially dried pitted dates may be glazed with glucose syrup for use as a snack food. Dates can also be chopped and used in a range of sweet and savory dishes, from tajines (tagines) in Morocco to puddings, ka'ak (types of Arab cookies) and other dessert items. Date nut bread, a type of cake, is very popular in the United States, especially around holidays. Dates are also processed into cubes, paste called 'ajwa, spread, date syrup or "honey" called "dibs" or rub in Libya, powder (date sugar), vinegar or alcohol. Vinegar made from dates was a traditional product of the Middle East.{{cite journal | doi = 10.1021/ie50319a016 | title = Vinegar from Dates | year = 1936 | last1 = Das | first1 = Bhagwan | last2 = Sarin | first2 = J. L. | journal = Industrial & Engineering Chemistry | volume = 28 | issue = 7 | pages = 814}}{{Cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Y84UAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA78 | title = Studies in Ancient Technology | publisher = E.J. Brill | location = Netherlands | last1 = Forbes | first1 = Robert James | volume = 1 | year = 1971 | access-date = 20 June 2015 | archive-date = 17 March 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230317154434/https://books.google.com/books?id=Y84UAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA78 | url-status = live }} Recent innovations include chocolate-covered dates and products such as sparkling date juice, used in some Islamic countries as a non-alcoholic version of champagne, for special occasions and religious times such as Ramadan. When Muslims break fast in the evening meal of Ramadan, it is traditional to eat a date first.

Reflecting the maritime trading heritage of Britain, imported chopped dates are added to, or form the main basis of a variety of traditional dessert recipes including sticky toffee pudding, Christmas pudding and date and walnut loaf. They are particularly available to eat whole at Christmas time. Dates are one of the ingredients of HP Sauce, a popular British condiment.

In Southeast Spain (where a large date plantation exists including UNESCO-protected Palmeral of Elche) dates (usually pitted with fried almond) are served wrapped in bacon and shallow-fried. In Palestine date syrup, termed silan, is used while cooking chicken and also for sweets and desserts, and as a honey substitute. Dates are one of the ingredients of jallab, a Middle Eastern fruit syrup. In Pakistan, a viscous, thick syrup made from the ripe fruits is used as a coating for leather bags and pipes to prevent leaking.

File:Date forks in lizard stand.jpg

In the past, sticky dates were served using specialized small forks having two metal tines, called daddelgaffel in Scandinavia.{{cite web |last1=dragonflywink |title=Jensen fork |url=https://www.smpub.com/ubb/Forum26/HTML/002730.html |website=Silver Salon Forums |publisher=SM Publications |access-date=19 April 2020 |archive-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729044517/https://www.smpub.com/ubb/Forum26/HTML/002730.html |url-status=live }} Some designs were patented.{{cite book |title=Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office |date=1953 |publisher=US Patent Office |page=589 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D28bAQAAMAAJ&q=%22date+forks%22&pg=PA589 |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408151121/https://books.google.com/books?id=D28bAQAAMAAJ&q=%22date+forks%22&pg=PA589 |url-status=live }} These have generally been replaced by an inexpensive pale-colored knobbled plastic fork that resembles a date branch, which is traditionally included with numerous brands of prepackaged trays of dates, though this practice has declined in response to increased use of resealable packaging and calls for fewer single-use plastics.

Date seeds are soaked and ground up for animal feed. Their oil is suitable for use in cosmetics and dermatological applications. The oil contains lauric acid (36%) and oleic acid (41%). Date palm seeds contain 0.56–5.4% lauric acid. They can also be processed chemically as a source of oxalic acid. Date seeds are also ground and used in the manner of coffee beans, or as an additive to coffee. Experimental studies have shown that feeding mice with the aqueous extract of date pits exhibit anti-genotoxic effects and reduce DNA damage induced by N-nitroso-N-methylurea.{{cite journal|last=Diab|first=K.A|author2=E. I. Aboul-Ela|title=In Vivo Comparative Studies on Antigenotoxicity of Date Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) Pits Extract Against DNA Damage Induced by N-Nitroso-N-methylurea in Mice|journal= Toxicology International|year=2012|volume=19|issue=3|pages=279–286|pmid=23293467|doi=10.4103/0971-6580.103669|doi-broken-date=27 April 2025 |pmc=3532774 |doi-access=free }}

Stripped fruit clusters are used as brooms. Recently, the floral stalks have been found to be of ornamental value in households.{{cite journal | last1 = Kiran | first1 = S | year = 2014 | title = Floral Stalk on Date Palm: A New Discovery | doi = 10.3329/ijarit.v4i2.22649 | journal = International Journal of Agricultural Research, Innovation and Technology| volume = 4 | issue = 2| pages = 53–54| doi-access = free }}

File:Sweet sap from date palm.JPG tapped from date palm in West Bengal, India]]

Apart from P. dactylifera, wild date palms such as Phoenix sylvestris and Phoenix reclinata, depending on the region, can be also tapped for sap.

The consumption of raw date palm sap is one of the means by which the deadly Nipah virus spreads from bats to humans.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/01/31/1148681236/trying-to-crack-the-nipah-code-how-does-this-deadly-virus-spill-from-bats-to-hum|title=The Nipah virus has a kill rate of 70%. Bats carry it. But how does it jump to humans?|publisher=NPR|series=Goats and Soda|date=31 January 2023|access-date=16 September 2023|archive-date=27 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227110939/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/01/31/1148681236/trying-to-crack-the-nipah-code-how-does-this-deadly-virus-spill-from-bats-to-hum|url-status=live}} The virus can be inactivated by boiling the sap down to molasses. (In Malaysia, by contrast,

the vector was found to be factory farming of pigs.)

In North Africa, date palm leaves are commonly used for making huts. Mature leaves are also made into mats, screens, baskets, and fans. Processed leaves can be used for insulating board. Dried leaf petioles are a source of cellulose pulp, used for walking sticks, brooms, fishing floats, and fuel. Leaf sheaths are prized for their scent, and fibre from them is also used for rope, coarse cloth, and large hats.

Young date leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable, as is the terminal bud or heart, though its removal kills the palm. The finely ground seeds are mixed with flour to make bread in times of scarcity. The flowers of the date palm are also edible. Traditionally the female flowers are the most available for sale and weigh {{Convert|300|-|400|g|oz|frac=2}}. The flower buds are used in salad or ground with dried fish to make a condiment for bread.

{{Further|Palm branch (symbol)|Plants in Islam}}

In Ancient Rome, the palm fronds used in triumphal processions to symbolize victory were most likely those of P. dactylifera.{{cite book |author=Ernest Small |url=https://archive.org/details/topfoodplantswor00smal |title=Top 100 Food Plants |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-660-19858-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/topfoodplantswor00smal/page/n250 231] |publisher=NRC Research Press |url-access=limited}} The date palm was a popular garden plant in Roman peristyle gardens, though it would not bear fruit in the more temperate climate of Italy.{{cite book |author=Linda Farrar |title=Ancient Roman Gardens |year=1998 |page=141}} It is recognizable in frescoes from Pompeii and elsewhere in Italy, including a garden scene from the House of the Wedding of Alexander. In later times, traders spread dates around southwest Asia, northern Africa, and Spain. Dates were introduced into California by the Spaniards by 1769, existing by then around Mission San Diego de Alcalá, and were introduced to Mexico as early as the 16th century.{{cite journal |last1=Rivera |first1=D. |last2=Johnson |first2=D. |last3=Delgadillo |first3=J. |last4=Carrillo |first4=M. H. |last5=Obón |first5=C. |last6=Krueger |first6=R. |last7=Alcaraz |first7=F. |last8=Ríos |first8=S. |last9=Carreño |first9=E. |date=2012 |title=Historical evidence of the Spanish introduction of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L., Arecaceae) into the Americas |url=https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/download/60761/pdf |journal=Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution |volume=60 |issue=4 |pages=1437–1439, 1441–1442, 1444–1445 |doi=10.1007/s10722-012-9932-5 |s2cid=24146736 |access-date=8 May 2022 |archive-date=16 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616052526/https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/download/60761/pdf |url-status=live }}

Dates are mentioned more than 50 times in the Bible and 20 times in the Quran. Date palms holds great significance in Abrahamic religions. The tree was heavily cultivated as a food source in ancient Israel where Judaism and subsequently Christianity developed.{{cite book |author=James Hastings |url=https://archive.org/details/jstor-27900187 |title=Dictionary of the Bible |publisher=The Monist |year=1909 |page=675}} Date palm leaves are used for Palm Sunday in the Christian religion.

Many Jewish scholars believe that the "honey" reference in Exodus chapter 3 to "a land flowing with milk and honey" is actually a reference to date "honey", and not honey from bees.[https://outorah.org/p/5705/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304220604/https://outorah.org/p/5705/|date=4 March 2022}}, JEWISH ACTION Magazine, Winter 5765/2005 issue In the Torah, palm trees are referenced as symbols of prosperity and triumph.Psalm 92.12 Psalm 92:12 states that "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree." Palm branches occurred as iconography in sculpture ornamenting the Second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, on Jewish coins, and in the sculpture of synagogues. They are also used as ornamentation in the Feast of the Tabernacles. Date palms are one of the seven species of native Israeli plants revered in Judaism.{{Cite book |last=Cooper |first=John |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/27266322 |title=Eat and be satisfied : a social history of Jewish food |date=1993 |publisher=Jason Aronson |isbn=0-87668-316-2 |location=Northvale, N.J. |oclc=27266322}} The date palm has historically been considered a symbol of Judea and the Jewish people.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/457130327 |title=Jerusalem und die Länder : Ikonographie, Topographie, Theologie ; Festschrift für Max Küchler zum 65. Geburtstag |date=2009 |publisher=Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht |first1=Max |last1=Küchler |first2=Gerd |last2=Theissen |isbn=978-3-525-53390-1 |location=Göttingen |oclc=457130327}} The leaves are used as a lulav in the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.{{Cite book |last=Karo |first=Joseph ben Ephraim |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/421411475 |title=The Metsudah Kitzur Shulchan Aruch |date=1999 |publisher=Metsudah Publications |oclc=421411475}} They are also commonly used as the s'chach in the construction of a sukkah.{{Cite web |title=KKL Preparing for Distribution of "Schach" |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/171541 |access-date=2021-03-05 |website=Israel National News |date=24 September 2009 |language=en |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308203445/https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/171541 |url-status=live }}

In the Quran, Allah instructs Maryām (the Virgin Mary) to eat dates during labour pains when she gives birth to Isa (Jesus).The Quran, [http://quran.al-islam.com/Page.aspx?pageid=221&BookID=15&Page=306 Chapter 19 - verses 22-25] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095722/http://quran.al-islam.com/Page.aspx?pageid=221&BookID=15&Page=306 |date=2 April 2015 }}, retrieved on 28 Feb. 2015, So she [Virgin Mary] conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. she cried (in her anguish): 'Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!' But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): 'Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree; it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.' In Islamic culture, dates and yogurt or milk are traditionally the first foods consumed for Iftar after the sun has set during Ramadan.

In Mandaeism, the date palm (Mandaic: {{Transliteration|myz|sindirka}}, which can refer to both the tree and its fruit{{cite book|last=Drower|first=E. S.|author-link=E. S. Drower|date=1960|title=The secret Adam: a study of Nasoraean gnosis|location=Oxford|publisher=Clarendon Press}}) symbolizes the cosmic tree and is often associated with the cosmic wellspring (Mandaic: {{Transliteration|myz|aina}}). The date palm, associated with masculinity, and wellspring, associated with femininity, are often mentioned together as heavenly symbols in Mandaean texts.{{cite book | last=Nasoraia | first=Brikha | title=The Mandaean Rivers Scroll (Diwan Nahrawatha): an analysis | publisher=Routledge | publication-place=London | year=2022 | isbn=978-0-367-33544-1 | oclc=1295213206 | url=https://www.routledge.com/The-Mandaean-Rivers-Scroll-Diwan-Nahrawatha-An-Analysis/Nasoraia/p/book/9780367335441 | access-date=21 October 2022 | archive-date=8 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008012726/https://www.routledge.com/The-Mandaean-Rivers-Scroll-Diwan-Nahrawatha-An-Analysis/Nasoraia/p/book/9780367335441 | url-status=live }}

File:Dried date, peach, apricot, and stones. From Lahun, Fayum, Egypt. Late Middle Kingdom. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.jpg|Dried date, peach, and apricot from Lahun, Fayum, Egypt. Late Middle Kingdom

File:Emblem of Saudi Arabia.svg|Date palm in the emblem of Saudi Arabia

File:Date palm cutting growing on the trunk.jpg|Date palm cutting growing on the trunk

Image:Date-seller.jpg|Date seller in the old souq in Kuwait City

File:Abu Dhabi – Corniche 3 - أبو ظبي - الكورنيش - panoramio.jpg|Palm trees and other trees in the middle of the road (Abu Dhabi, Middle East).

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0681E/t0681e02.htm Date palm products] (additional information from the FAO)

{{Commons}}

{{EB1911 poster|Date Palm}}

{{Date cultivars}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q25292}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Desert fruits

Category:Drought-tolerant trees

Category:Edible palms

Category:Garden plants of Africa

Category:Garden plants of Asia

Category:Ornamental trees

dactylifera

Date palm

Category:Trees of Africa

Category:Tropical agriculture

Category:Fruit trees

Category:Plants in the Bible