The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the oldest and one of the largest producers of dates in the world. The Saudis are among the largest consumers of dates, and many are connoisseurs. Saudi Arabia is rich with many types, shapes and colors of dates that are not known nor found anywhere else in the world. In order to be properly appreciated in new and sophisticated markets, Saudi dates must be well cared for and well handled. All dates sold by Bateel are produced by Bateel in its own date groves using the most modern date growing and harvesting techniques so that quality can be carefully controlled.
We focus first on better farming and cultural practices in the growing of dates. We use new and better methods for the handling and processing of dates, which preserve the natural freshness of the fruit and maintain consistent quality.
When the first date flowers appear, the Bateel team begins to pollinate and train the flowers and inspect for any signs of infestation or disease. When the dates begin to form, the same team returns to thin the date branches, picking dates by hand to reduce their number. This leaves them with an ideal environment for healthy growth and size development.
Several weeks later, the dates begin to soften and mature, and they are most susceptible to infestation and bird bites. The team returns to cover the bunches with well-ventilated cloth bags.
Finally, the farm team returns to pick the dates, again by hand, to ensure that the highest possible standard of quality is attained. With this task completed, the farm team goes on to care for the date palm trees. They now begin the task of sorting, fumigating, cleaning grading, packaging, cold storing and finally marketing these unique dates, always observing the highest standard of care. Only Bateel offers this quality and range of dates.
Extensive Range Bateel offers five types of dates some of which are available in all varieties. These include Balah, Rhutab, Tamr, Presses and with Dhibbs.
Balah
In this form dates are still hard and have not ripened. In some varieties such as Barhi and Hilwa, the fruit is edible in this form and is offered by Bateel during the season.
Rhutab
In this form, dates are semi-ripe, i.e. not fully ripened Rhutab is softer, contains more moisture than Tamr. Most varieties of dates are very suitable for eating as Rhutab. Rhutab is normally offered during the season, however Bateel offers Rhutab in varieties such as Barhi and Sokari frozen all year round.
Tamr
These are fully ripe dates and normally available in fresh form during the season Bateels production and storage technology allows for most varieties to be available all year round.
Date with Dhibbs
These are fresh dates dipped and pickled in glucose. This type of date which is sweeter is preferred by certain consumers. Bateel offers Date with Dhibbs in all varieties.
Pressed Dates
To preserve dates all year round without freezing or cold storing, dates are pressed and left to soften in the juices produced by the pressing process. This form of preserving dates has a long history and the product is very popular. Bateel offers a high quality pressed dates in attractive packages in all varieties.
Health Benefits of Dates
Dates are truly one of natures delicious and nutritious power packed health foods. They are always in season and always available to add a powerful bonus to your daily diet.
Fiber-filled dates
Dates are a sweet and good source of dietary fiber. Many studies show that diets low in fat and high in fiber-containing foods are associated with reduced risks of some types of cancer. Dietary fiber obtained from dates comes in two forms Soluble and Insoluble. Each serves a valuable function. Insoluble fiber increases the rate at which food moves through the digestive system. Soluble fiber may help control diabetes by decreasing elevated blood glucose levels. Soluble fiber has also been found to help lower Serum cholesterol levels particularly undesirable Loud Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Carbohydrates A source of energy packed into dates
A serving of dates (5 to 6 pieces) contains 31 grams of carbohydrates, making them a powerhouse of energy. The carbohydrates found in dates, including 3 grams of dietary fiber and 29 grams of naturally occurring sugars, such as fructose, glucose and sucrose, provide quick energy and are readily assimilated into and used by the body. This makes dates a perfect choice as an energy-boosting snack.
Potassium-packed dates
Potassium is an essential mineral needed by your body to maintain muscle contractions, including the vital heart muscle. Potassium is also needed to maintain a healthy nervous system and to help with the body's metabolism. This is an important consideration for physically active people because the body's supply of potassium can be reduced through perspiration. Eating dates and drinking water is an ideal, natural way to replenish the body's need for potassium. A serving of dates contains 240 milligrams of potassium. or 7% of the recommended daily value (DV), of this essential nutrient. In fact, weight for weight, dates contains more potassium than bananas.
Vitamins and Minerals in Dates
Dates contain a variety of B-complex vitamins. They contain thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid. These vitamins have a variety of functions that help maintain a healthy body. They help metabolize carbohydrates and maintain blood glucose levels, fatty acids for energy and they help make hemoglobin.
Magnesium is essential for healthy bone development and for energy metabolism. One serving of dates provides 4% of the suggested daily intake.
Fat free, Cholesterol Dates
Foods are quite often nutritious because of what they do not have. Fruits such as dates are important for what they supply and for what they do not supply. Dates are fat free, cholesterol free and sodium free, all of which are important factors in reducing the risk of both heart disease and cancer and fit very well into a healthy diet.
Sodium Free dates
Dates provide a great tasting snack food or recipe ingredient that will not add any sodium to your diet. Consuming too much sodium may increase the risk of heart disease and hypertension.
More about Dates
The date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, of the palm family Arecaceas, has long been a staple food in the Middle East. Its origins are obscured by its long history in cultivation throughout the Old World arid belt. Date stones from 4,500 B.C. have been found in Egypt, and ancient remains from India have also been found. The plant was probably domesticated independently in several parts of the world. It was introduced in China from Iran about 1,700 years ago and was taken to California by the Spanish in the 17th century. It does well in dry, hot climates.
P. dactylifera is a tall, unbalanced feather palm with a crown of up to 100 leaves. Fruiting occurs after about five years. Loosely branched male and female blossoms grow from the crowns of separate trees, and pollination is encouraged by placing severed male blossoms amongst the females an ancient technique that requires much climbing. Machinery now exists to blow pollen up through a tube. Pollen from different males differs in effects on the fruit color, size and ripening qualities. Most plantation palms are female, the pollen output of one male plant normally being sufficient to pollinate up to 50 females. In some varieties such as Barhi and Hilwa, the date fruit is eaten as Balah, i.e., while it is still hard. In most other varieties, the fruit is eaten as Rutab, half ripe, or as Tamr, fully ripe. Balah and Rutab are usually available in harvest season in summer and early fall. Tamr is available all year long because it is possible to maintain its fresh condition in cold storage. There are ongoing attempts to propagate date palms through tissue culture, but the method that is still widely used is the traditional method using offshoots. Planting the date seed, which is found in the date fruit, can also propagate date palms, but this method is not practical because it is not possible to control the sex or type of tree that grows. Despite the varietal differences among palms and the effects of climate and soil, date palms generally do not begin to produce in commercial quantity until they approach ten years of age. In general, the yield of a date palm is dependent on the number of fronds (branches), and a palm may produce between 12 and 20 bunches, sometimes more. A date palm lives for over 100 years and grows to a height of 20 meters.