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Date, a fruit cultivated extensively throughout the world in hot, dry
regions, is one of the major fruits found in Saudi Arabia. The varied
delicacies that brings out of it are really astounding. Biscuits,
wafers, chocolates and other candies, pickles and vinegar are a few of them.
Date filled cookies called Mamoul, a Middle Eastern cookies, is traditionally filled with pitted dates or date pastes.
Saudi Arabia along with Egypt is one of the largest producers of dates
in the world.
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Budding dates at a farm in Ragbah in the Cetral region
of Saudi Arabia.
All the young sprouts of dates will have a yellowish green colour,
though, as it ripens the metamorphosis begins with varied colours, sizes
and tastes. |
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A bunch of red dates at a farm in Hufuf in the
eastern region. Hufuf is a leading producer of dates in the Kingdom. The date farms
make Hufuf the largest oasis in Saudi Arabia and one of the largest of
the world.
As you enter a Saudi home, the first dish that awaits you will be Dates
with Qahwa (a drink of spices), a delicious combination. |
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Dates provide medicinal and nutritional value. They are great sources of iron,
potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, copper, boron and phosphorous.
They are also rich in natural
fibers and contain many vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, folic and ascorbic acid.
Approximately six dates are equivalent to about ten teaspoons of table sugar.
It will be interesting to know that
one kilogram of dates contains nearly 3,000 calories
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