Origin: It is believed that the dates were originated in the Middle East and was considered to be a great culinary item. There were more than 3000 varieties of dates at that time.
As per history, Date used to grow around the coastal region between the Jordan Valley and the Mediterranean Sea is known as Phoenicia. Phoenicia stands for purple land in greek. Date palm grew abundantly in Phoenicia and was believed to be the date trees homeland. The date palm was popularly known as Phoenix, or tree of Phoenicia. It was referred to as a symbol of the region and was featured on Phoenician coins.
History shows that there has been a lot of dates remains on neolithic sites, particularly in Syria and Egypt. This means that they were consumed by a man almost 7,000 to 8,000 years ago.
Scientifically: The date palm belongs to Kingdom Plantae under the Division Magnoliophyta. This division contains 12-19 species of date palms. Botanically, date palm is called Phoenix dactylifera.
Date palm usually grows around the coastal area and reaches a height of about 69 – 75 feet. The date fruit is a small cylindrical shape and the size is about 1-3 inches in length and around 1inch in diameter. The color of the date palm is usually between bright red to bright yellow, to deep red or deep brown.
Usage: Dates are very sweet fruit and are consumed as a dessert fruit or is used in making desserts. Dates have a high nutrition value and considered great for overall health. They are a great source of carbohydrates, fiber, proteins, minerals, and vitamin B complex. They contain minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium.
Dates also contain phytochemicals which help in lowering cholesterol and blood sugar level. Dates are a great source of Vitamin C and E which helps in boosting collagen and improves skin texture. Dates are also rich in antioxidants like tannins, which prevents skin cell damage and reduces inflammation. The nutrients in the date help in increasing elasticity and enhances the strength of the subcutaneous tissues.
Below are some DIYs with dates:
- Take 2-3 dates, de-seed them and soak them in milk for a few hours. Blend them into a paste and apply on the face for 15 minutes. Massage and wash off the mask later. This remedy helps in clear and brighter skin.
- Take 2-3 dates, de-seed them and soak them in milk for a few hours. Blend them into a paste and add a teaspoon of semolina. Mix them together and apply on the face. Once slightly dry, gently massage the face and wash it off. This face mask works as an excellent scrub and doesn’t dry off the skin.
- Take one-two de-seeded dates and add some vinegar to it. Grind them into a fine paste and massage this paste onto the scalp. Massage it for 10-15 minutes and then shampoo it. This remedy helps in treating the dry and flaky scalp.
- Take 4-5 teaspoons of date puree and add half a cup of fresh aloe vera gel to it. Mix it together and massage it on the face, body, and hair. This remedy is good for hydrating skin and hair.