Types of export dates

The palm tree is one of the oldest trees with an age of about 6000 years. Currently, dates are cultivated and exploited in more than 30 countries. There are many varieties of dates in the world; There are about 3500 types of them in the world, of which about 400 models are the best types of export dates belonging to Iran.

The largest area of date cultivation is in the continent of Asia and Africa and the countries of Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria. In Iran, about 200 thousand hectares with a fertility rate of more than 90% of dates are cultivated in cities such as Kerman, Sistan and Baluchestan, Khuzestan, Bushehr, and Fars, equivalent to 1 million tons of dates annually. This amount is more than 80% of the per capita consumption of Iranians. These cases show the great importance of dates in Iran’s non-oil exports.

6 stages of date growth:

• Bubbabok Dates in the bubble stage are very unripe, hard, and green in color.
• Cimmerian, in the Cimmerian stage, turns bright green, but its oval appearance has not yet been formed.
• Khark, in the khark stage, dates are yellow and very crunchy and have a gassy taste.
• Dembaz, the stage where the date is half dry and half moist is called Dembaz.
• Moist, in the moist stage, dates have a light brown color and balanced sweetness.
• Date

The most use of this product is from the Kharak stage onwards.

Types of dates in Iran:

The main difference between the types of dates is the type and amount of sugar and the amount of moisture or water in it. Follow the names of Iranian date varieties below:

Types of kloteh dates (general):

This date is mostly harvested in Jiroft, Anbarabad, and Kohnuj cities. The harvesting time of this date is from the beginning of September to the end of the month and it has one of the tallest palms in Iran. It takes about 7 to 10 years from planting to fruiting. The height of this numerical date is between 2.5 and 3.5 cm; Its size and humidity depending on where it is grown.

This date is very big among clay dates. It is also considered among the wet or semi-wet dates of Iran with relatively medium juice. The ratio of meat to the kernel of Klotte date is about 90%. The whole date has a soft flesh that does not stick to its core.

It is easily chewed in the mouth. The color of this fruit is red at first, and its shape is very similar to Mozafati dates (with the difference that its texture is a little harder). This date, along with Mozafati dates, experiences the highest sales in the holy month of Ramadan. The best temperature for keeping whole dates is lower than 5 degrees Celsius and it is kept in sterilized and completely hygienic environments without humidity. 40 grams of these dates (4 pieces) have about 120 kcal of energy.

Properties of Klotte dates

Klotte dates have a lot of minerals and iron, as well as vitamins of groups A and B, which are unique for the health of skin and hair.

Types of extra dates:

This type of date is mostly grown in Jiroft, Anbarabad, Bam, and Saravan cities. The main origin of Mozafati dates is the city of Bam in Kerman province; For this reason, additional dates are also called Bam dates. The fruiting time of Mozafati dates is usually considered at the end of the winter months.

The minimum weight of each additional date is 12 grams and the maximum weight is 22 grams, and its length is usually between 3 and 4.5 cm.

Due to the high humidity, this date is not considered a dried fruit, and its storage conditions are between -5 and 5 degrees Celsius. The average harvest of each additional palm tree is 100 to 120 kg and 18 tons per hectare. This type of date with an annual production of about 46 thousand tons in Iran and an export value of about 164 million dollars, equivalent to 55% of the country’s date exports, holds the first rank.

The high amount of date juice makes it difficult for the consumer to use it, while excessive humidity causes contamination to be absorbed. Washing and not consuming this type of date will make it rotten and sour. Therefore, wash according to the amount of consumption at each stage. Sometimes they mistakenly use the word “moist” for Mozafati dates; But in fact, rutab is the newly ripe fruit of the palm tree.

Properties of Mozafti dates:

Mozafati dates are oval in shape and have a soicy texture. The moist skin is black, shiny, and thin. The blacker the color of the additive, the more people are willing to buy it.

The color of Mozafati dates is not black from the beginning, it is red at first and gradually turns brown, finally purple, and finally black. Unlike most other dates, the core of this date is separated from the date meat. Another unique feature of Mozafati dates is the presence of potassium and magnesium in this type of date. Due to the unique effect of this date on the beauty of the skin and hair, it has been called the elixir of youth.

Types of Zahedi dates:

This type of date is mostly cultivated in Khuzestan province, Bushehr province, and the south of Kerman and Qasb provinces. The shape of this fruit is oval and its end is quite narrow and pointed. This fruit turns yellow in the prickly stage, light brown in the moist stage, and reddish brown to pale yellow in the date stage.

The root of the name of this date comes from the Arabic word (Zahdi) which means abundance. Varieties of Zahedi dates are usually used semi-dry. But its dry type has more fiber than semi-dry dates. Due to its low amount of sugar, this date is a suitable substitute for sugar along with tea and other drinks. Zahedi date has no juice and a relatively soft inner texture with a relatively dry outer layer. For this reason, it is also known as dry dates. The average weight of each Zahedi date seed is 8 grams and its length is 3 to 4 cm.

Zahedi date palms are planted in August, and April is the time for pollination, or as it is called locally, the time to smell. Then from September to the end of October is the time to harvest it. The average product obtained from each Zahedi palm tree is equivalent to 80 to 100 kg. The harvest of Zahedi dates from each hectare of the grove and is estimated to be around 15 tons.

Properties of Zahedi dates:

Zahedi date has high polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds that can protect the body against inflammation.

Types of Kabkab dates:

This type of date is mostly cultivated in Bushehr province and Bafaq city. The color of this fruit is yellow in the prickly stage and light brown and burnt brown in the moist stage. It turns dark brown when fully ripe. Unlike other dates, Kabkab dates have a bitter taste when they are unripe and prickly. Kabkab dates are usually oval and weigh about 15 grams, mi-dry, bright yellow texture. The shell thickness of Kabkab dates is a little higher than other dates.

The ripening time of this type of date is at the beginning of Amrdad month. But the harvesting of its fully ripe fruit (dates) starts in the middle of September and continues until the middle of Mehr. The average harvest of each palm tree is about 40 to 50 kilograms. Also, the average harvest of this type of date from each hectare of the grove is about 15 tons. The highest production of Kabkab dates is in Bushehr province and includes about 75% of date production in Bushehr province.

The minimum weight of this type of date is 10 and the maximum is about 18 grams and its length is about 4 cm. Kabkab dates are usually classified as fresh dates. Due to having a lot of juice, these dates are mostly used to make Arde dates. Kabkab dates have many fans due to their high percentage of sweetness and optimal moisture.

Properties of Kabkab dates.

Studies have shown that regular consumption of dates can improve cognitive function, and reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s and brain inflammation in the elderly. It also prevents aging due to the prevention of melanin accumulation. In this regard, reading this article may be interesting for you.

Other dates (colonies)

This type of date is mostly planted in Khuzestan province and includes about 75% of the groves in Khuzestan. It is one of the most important export products of this province. This type of date is also known by other names such as Samran, Sair, Sembron, and Semron and with the brand name “Samra”.

The semi-dryness of other dates has increased its durability and is one of the most suitable exports and commercial products of Iran. Sayer dates have a very high sugar content and are considered one of the sweetest types of dates. The harvest time of these palms is from the end of September to the beginning of October and it is in the category of semi-dry and dry dates.

Other dates have an oval shape and can have different flavors depending on the type of climate and place of cultivation. Sayer dates (colonies) have a dark brown color. The kernel of Sayer dates is easily removed, and due to its low moisture content, it has a lower juice content than other dates. Normally, this type of date comes in three sizes: large, medium, and small. The main export type is the larger type. The size of each type of Sayer date (colony) is about 2 to 4 cm and its weight is about 6 to 9 grams on average.

Properties of colon dates (other)

Colony dates are very suitable for people with digestive problems. A lot of iron in this date is very useful for people with anemia.

Export of Types of dates