Cochin Duty Free has a collection of different varieties of dates from Dateland
The history of date fruit is as rich as its flavour. The date palm is the oldest known cultivated tree. The date palm fruit, or simply ‘date’ is also known as the fruit of paradise in the Middle Eastern region for the myriad of health benefits it offers.
Dried dates have been a staple ingredient for thousands of years and are available in several varieties. The flavour and nutrients of dates differ based on their place of origin and the mode of cultivation.
Dates are so versatile that they can be added to almost all dishes whether it is sweet, sour, tangy or spicy. Cochin Duty Free has a collection of different varieties of dates from Dateland. If you are planning to take home some of these sweet sticky fruits, now is the best time to purchase them, because Cochin Duty Free has exciting offers applied to the product.
Here are some of the date varieties available at the shop:
Fard
Fard is a palm date cultivar with dark brown skin, tiny seeds, tender skin, and a sweet flavour. This variety is widely grown in Oman. Since they do not tend to develop wrinkled skin, they can be transported easily.
Khidri
Khidri date is the most renowned Bateel variety originating in Egypt. The colour ranges from amber to dark brown and wrinkled flaky skin. It is soft, sweet and chewy. This date is large and has a cylindrical and elongated shape.
Lulu
Lulu dates are also known as plum dates. This variety is deliciously sweet. They are grown in the southern regions of Iran. They are similar to plums in appearance and are rich dark brown in colour. Their skin is wrinkled and adhered to the flesh.
Sagai
Sagai is a traditional date variety popular in Saudi Arabia. They are golden in colour at the tip and the rest is brown. The flavour is mildly sweet, while the unique texture is crunchy and soft.
Let’s now look at some of the health benefits of dried dates!
Dates are rich in antioxidants including, carotenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acid. Carotenoids are beneficial for heart health. Flavonoid is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. It can help reduce the risk of diabetes. Phenolic acid too has anti-inflammatory properties and has the ability to mitigate heart-related issues.
Dates are naturally enriched in plant polyphenols. Plant polyphenols are known for their biological properties including antioxidant activity, cholesterol-lowering properties, and other potential health benefits such as better digestion, prevention of diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Apart from these, dried dates are a good source of Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, and Potassium, which are some of the most essential minerals in our body.