“Bread of the Desert”
Royal dates: What makes them so healthy – and why they should be on the menu every day
Dates contain the amino acid tryptophan, which makes the dried fruit the secret weapon for better sleep, strong nerves and good sleep
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The date is a unique fruit: it tastes a little like caramel and honey, is full of vitamins and minerals and has numerous health benefits. Everything you need to know about the “bread of the desert”.
In the Orient it has been distorted for thousands of years, in this country it has only recently enjoyed great popularity: the date. The so-called “bread of the desert” is not only suitable as a sweet snack for in between, but can also be used in many ways thanks to its unique taste. The dried plant with a thousand-year history is considered a nutrient bomb, which should be on the menu regularly due to its extraordinary properties. An overview.
Origin of the date – a thousand-year-old cultivated plant
The date is best known in its dried form – then it not only has the most intense taste, but also has a very long shelf life. Before drying, the date fruit grows on a palm tree that is up to 30 meters high. The date palm is a millennia-old cultivated plant – its origin can be traced back to 6000 BC, whereby the date was mainly cultivated in the riparian states around the Persian Gulf. Nowadays, Egypt, Algeria, Iran and Saudi Arabia are among the largest date producers.
1500 different types of dates are grown depending on the country of origin and differ in colour, shape, size and taste. Some date varieties, such as the large Medjool dates, are considered a delicacy and cost significantly more than their smaller counterparts. The rule of thumb here is: the thinner the fruit skin and the thicker the flesh, the more valuable the date. The color palette of the fruits ranges from yellow to red to deep dark brown. In dry, hot, desert-rich countries of the Orient and the Mediterranean region, it is still eaten every day and is even considered a staple food here.
From “Deglet Nours” to “Mejool” dates
Dates can now be found all over the world, especially in their dried version. In the USA, South Africa and Australia, it is now even cultivated on a large scale in-house production, while the dates available in Germany mostly come from Tunisia. The “Deglet Nours” variety is the most popular – the name of the dried fruit can be translated as “finger of light”. It can be found in almost every supermarket and is a popular dish at Christmas time. It tastes sweet with a hint of honey and can be used on its own as a snack or for baking cookies or fruit cakes. Their flesh is light brown and slightly firmer than that of the Medjool date. With its considerable weight of up to 30 grams, this is considered the “queen of dates” and is valued for its extremely juicy flesh, unmistakable volume and intense caramel note. In Morocco it is said to have only been allowed in royal households in the past, but the variety can now be found in well-stocked organic markets and health food stores as well as on the Internet.
“Bread of the Desert”
The term “bread of the desert” is not attributed to the date without reason. It is a staple in desert regions due to its unique nutritional profile, long shelf life and ease of storage. Not only is it rich in antioxidants, but it also has large amounts of fiber and significant amounts of vitamin C and iron. Thanks to its high carbohydrate content, it provides the body with plenty of energy and prevents concentration problems. Combined with large amounts of magnesium and calcium, the date is the perfect snack for athletes and active people. Their natural fructose, combined with plenty of fiber and carbohydrates in the form of starch, causes the blood sugar level to rise slowly and can thus counteract cravings.
Improved well-being – mood, sleep and stress reduction
But dates can do even more. In addition to vitamins, minerals and trace elements, the dried fruit contains the amino acid tryptophan. Nerve cells in the brain use tryptophan to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that can lift mood. The natural fructose of the date promotes the absorption of tryptophan in the brain, so regular consumption of dates can improve mood.
In addition, tryptophan is also involved in the formation of the body’s own hormone melatonin, which in turn has a significant effect on the regulation of the human sleep-wake cycle. Regular consumption of two to three dates before going to bed can therefore have a calming effect. Large amounts of vitamins A and B1 have a positive effect on the nervous system and can lower blood pressure. Dates can help to keep a cool head in stressful situations – a true secret weapon, the date.
Things worth knowing about purchasing, storage and preparation
If you have now acquired a taste for it, there is almost nothing standing in the way of your date happiness. Ripe, fresh dates taste subtly sweet, but cannot be compared to the dried variety. They are flash frozen immediately after harvest until sold and should be stored in the refrigerator until consumption. The fresh variety is rarely found in Germany – mostly in Arabic or Turkish supermarkets and on the Internet. After plucking, the dried fruit is dried on the panicles by the sun or by machine in dehydrators, packaged and, thanks to its high sugar content, can be stored in a cool place for several months without any problems.
While the fresh date is usually eaten pure, the dried version is ideal for further processing. They are particularly suitable for baking, but they also make a big appearance in hearty cuisine – in addition to the classic “dates wrapped in bacon”, the dried fruits give hearty pans, stews and sauces a special touch, taste great grilled or filled with cheese, cream cheese and nuts outstanding. In the sweet kitchen, they are suitable as a natural sugar substitute and can (pitted) be added to a variety of desserts. In muesli, smoothie or further processed with oatmeal and nuts as a delicious energy ball – the possibilities are almost limitless. Especially during the Christmas season, the date is used with preference in wintry pastries such as fruit bread, where it provides a pleasant sweetness and moisture. In addition to the diverse preparation options, the “bread of the desert” shines above all in its natural form – enjoyed pure as a snack in between.
Source: ARD