Dates
Dates are a staple across the Middle East and North Africa, eaten daily as a snack, stuffed with nuts or cheese, blended into desserts, and traditionally used to break the fast each evening during Ramadan. This guide covers the main varieties sold in the US, how to pick good ones, and where to buy dates near you.
We're adding more stores in this category. List your store to be featured.
Large, soft, and caramel-sweet — the most popular variety in the US, often called the 'king of dates.' Great for eating fresh or stuffing.
Firmer and less sweet than Medjool, with a nutty flavor — commonly used in baking and widely grown in Tunisia and Algeria.
Dark, soft dates from Medina, Saudi Arabia, especially significant during Ramadan and often sold at a premium.
Date syrup (dibs), date paste, and date-stuffed cookies (maamoul) are common alongside whole dates in Middle Eastern grocery stores.
Tradition holds that the fast should be broken with dates and water, following the practice of eating an odd number of dates — a custom observed across the Muslim world.
Look for plump, glossy skin without excessive sugar crystallization on the surface — heavy sugar crusting usually means the dates are older or lower quality.
Dates keep at room temperature for a few weeks, but refrigerating or freezing extends freshness for months without much change in texture.
Blended into smoothies, used as a natural sweetener in energy balls, stuffed with almonds or walnuts, or simmered into date syrup and paste.
Middle Eastern, Persian, and South Asian grocery stores stock multiple varieties of dates, often sold by the pound or in gift boxes around Ramadan. See our Middle Eastern Grocery Stores Near Me directory to find one nearby.
Medjool dates are larger, softer, and sweeter — often eaten on their own or stuffed. Deglet Noor dates are firmer, less sweet, and more commonly used in baking.
It's a tradition rooted in Islamic practice during Ramadan — dates provide a quick source of natural sugar and energy after a full day of fasting, traditionally eaten in odd numbers with water.
Dates are a good source of fiber, potassium, and natural energy, though they're calorie-dense and high in natural sugar, so portion size matters.
Generally yes for baking, though Medjool's softness and moisture content can affect texture — Deglet Noor or a similar firmer variety is usually a safer substitute in recipes calling for chopped or pitted dates.