Date is a wonder fruit from Arabia. Dates have been an important fruit among people for centuries. It is considered to be the oldest among the cultivated tree fruits. They are mainly cultivated for its edible sweet fruits. They are one of the most versatile fruits that help in the digestive process in a natural way. The date fruit has become quite popular in the recent years because of its health benefits. It is rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, sulphur, and zinc. It is said to have originated from the fertile regions between Egypt and Mesopotamia. The dates are mainly cultivated across Northern Africa, Middle East, South Asia and in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. They are rich in vitamins such as vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9 and K.

There are 3 main categories of dates - soft dates, semi soft dates and dry dates. Some common types of dates include Barhi dates, Deglet Noor dates, Halawi dates, Khadrawy dates, Thoory dates, Zahidi dates etc. Dates have been an important traditional crop in Iraq, Arabia, North Africa, Morocco etc.

Date trees usually grow upto 21–23 metres (69–75 ft) in height. Dates are sweet in taste, containing about 75 percent sugar when dried. The colour depends on the variety of the date. The colours vary from bright red to bright yellow to white and black. The largest producer of dates in the world is Egypt, followed by Iran and Saudi Arabia. The major dates producing states in India include Rajasthan and Gujarat in the west and Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the south. India is the largest important of dates in the world.

Some basic facts about Dates:

• Botanical name: Phoenix dactylifera
• Family: Palm family, Arecaceae
• Common name: Date palm,  Khajur
• Sanskrit name: Kharjura
• Parts used: Fruits, clusters, leaves, seeds and sap.
• Native region and geographical distribution: Dates originated from the fertile regions between Egypt and Mesopotamia. They are mainly cultivated across Northern Africa, Middle East and South Asia
• Interesting facts: Adding camel milk to date fruits is an unbeatable combination. Camel milk is full of fat and vitamin C. Dates is full of vitamin A, B, and D. So a mixture of these two provides rich nutritional benefits.

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