General Information
Dates have been a staple food of the Middle East for thousands of years. They are believed to have originated around the Persian Gulf, and have been cultivated since ancient times from Mesopotamia to prehistoric Egypt, possibly as early as 4000 BCE. The Ancient Egyptians used the fruits to be made into date wine, and ate them at harvest. The Egyptians also ate another fruit of the Palm Tree, The Fruits of The Doum Palm. There is archaeological evidence of date cultivation in eastern Arabia in 6000 BCE. (Alvarez-Mon 2006).
In later times, Arabs spread dates around South and South West Asia, northern Africa, and Spain and Italy. Dates were introduced into Mexico and California by the Spaniards by 1765, around Mission San Ignacio.
Among the Medjool’s many nicknames, “king of dates” is most fitting. Once reserved for Moroccan royalty and their guests, they were a precious confection and remain so today. Like many delicacies, Medjools are pricey because their cultivation is a complex and labor-intensive process. Considered the diamond of dates, they are prized for their large size, extraordinary sweetness and chewy texture.
History
In the 1920’s the growing of Medjool dates became very popular in the United States particularly in California and Arizona. Date palms have an extensive history in the Middle East where they have been an important source for both food and building materials thousands of years. They are first thought to have been cultivated in the Persian Gulf region as early as 4,000 BC and are considered to be one of the earliest domesticated crops. The spread of the date throughout the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia as well as Africa is attributed to the far-reaching colonization of the Arabs.
