Date Palm (Will You Be My Date To The Prom?)

Date Palm (Will You Be My Date To The Prom?)

Date Palm 

Dried Dates

Description:

While dates don't appear to be particularly special with their oddly wrinkled, brown exterior, they're satisfyingly chewy and flavorful. Undoubtedly a favorite since the Garden of Eden, dates are considered a drupe because they contain a single pit or stone at the center. Reportedly the most labor intensive to grow and harvest, dates are not only one of the most prominent varieties – they are the only one that can be picked and eaten fresh.

Health view:

When it comes to the number of minerals, vitamins, and health-benefiting nutrients in dates, suffice it to say there are a lot of them. First and foremost, they're easily digested, allowing your body to make full use of their goodness. From the primeval banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the date palm has provided the Phoenix dactylic - the botanical name for dates - as an important food and medicinal source throughout the world. Iron for your blood, fiber for roughage, vitamin A for your eyes, potassium for your heart, B-vitamins, tannin's - these are just a few of the many nutrients in dates, making them one of the healthiest foods in the world. They have a noble history that healers have used through centuries for many of the same properties they're used for today.

Fresh Dates from a Date Palm

Overall:

Dates are a wonderful snack all by themselves. But make sure you eat them in moderation, as fruits can contain high levels of fructose that can harm your health. For a new twist, try stuffing them with a mixture of chopped raw almonds and walnuts, and raw cream cheese for a delicious, nutritious – and completely unique – hors d'oeuvre.

Popular uses around the world include date vinegar, chutney, date paste for bakery products, flavorings and roasted whole date seeds. The tree's buds (hearts of palm) are tasty additions to salads.