Date Varieties Buyer’s Matrix (2025): Compare Flavor, Size-Count & Best Uses
A practical, skimmable comparison to help retailers, importers and chefs choose the right date variety by taste, texture, size-count, storage needs and India-specific use cases. For the editorial “top picks,” see our Top 10 Best Dates in the World (2025).
What This Page Covers (and What It Doesn’t)
This page is a comparison matrix for Medjool, Ajwa, Kimia (Mazafati), Piarom, Safawi, Mabroom, Sukkari, Deglet Noor, Barhi, Zahidi. It focuses on practical selection (size-count, texture, storage, India logistics). For rankings and editorial picks, visit the separate Top-10 guide to avoid duplicate content and keyword overlap.
Quick Chooser: Which Variety Fits Your Use?
Gifting & Premium Retail
Medjool (jumbo, caramel), Ajwa (heritage, firm-soft), Piarom (rare, gourmet).
Tip: choose lower counts/kg (e.g., Medjool 16–18 / 18–22) for visual impact.
Daily Snacking
Kimia (Mazafati) (very soft), Safawi (soft-chewy), Sukkari (naturally sugary).
Cool-chain recommended for softer types in warm months.
Bakery • HORECA • Ambient
Deglet Noor (semi-dry, formats: pitted/diced), Zahidi (value, semi-dry), Mabroom (chewy, sleek).
Ambient 15–20 °C is typically fine for semi-dry varieties.
Seasonal Fresh Treat
Barhi at the rutab stage (butterscotch notes). Short season; handle gently.
Want editorial rankings instead of a buyer matrix? Read the Top-10 Best Dates (2025).
Varieties Matrix (Size-Count • Storage • Use)
| Variety | Taste & Texture | Typical Size-Count* | Best For | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medjool | Caramel-sweet; soft → tender-chewy | 16–18 • 18–22 • 22–26 | Gifting, premium retail, hotel amenities | Cool 4–12 °C; sealed |
| Ajwa | Mellow sweetness; firm-soft, dense | Large / Medium (by grade) | Heritage gifting; curated stores | Cool 4–12 °C; sealed |
| Kimia (Mazafati) | Rich, dark; very soft & moist | Retail 500 g/1 kg (master 5 kg) | Daily snacking | Cool-chain; avoid condensation |
| Piarom | Complex, dark-chocolate notes; semi-dry | Premium grades vary by origin | Connoisseur gifting; specialty retail | 15–20 °C, dry & dark |
| Safawi | Balanced sweet; soft-chewy | Family/retail grades | Premium family packs; festive mixes | Cool preferred; sealed |
| Mabroom | Honeyed, sleek; semi-soft to chewy | Retail/wholesale grades | Ambient-friendly gifting & travel | 15–20 °C; dry |
| Sukkari | Bright, sugary; soft | Household packs | Energy snacking; mixes | Cool preferred; sealed |
| Deglet Noor | Honey-nut; semi-dry | Branch • pitted • diced | Bakery, bars, granola | 15–20 °C; airtight |
| Barhi | Butterscotch at rutab stage; very soft | Seasonal fresh | Fresh snacking (short shelf) | Refrigerated; handle gently |
| Zahidi | Nutty; semi-dry | Value/industrial grades | Value retail, chopping, paste | 15–20 °C; airtight |
*Lower count per kg = larger fruit. Compare like-for-like only.
Size-Count & Grading Glossary
Counts/kg (Medjool): 16–18 (very large), 18–22 (large), 22–26 (regular). Other varieties use different brackets; request supplier specs.
Grades: jumbo/large/medium terms reflect size + defect tolerance; always get written specs (moisture, size range, allowable defects).
Crop year & batch: check printed lot codes and MFD/BBE on retail masters.
Storage Playbook
| Type | Examples | Best Storage | Indicative Shelf-Life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft / Moist | Medjool, Ajwa, Kimia, Safawi | Cool 4–12 °C • ≤60% RH • airtight | ~6–9 months sealed |
| Semi-dry | Piarom, Mabroom, Sukkari, Deglet Noor, Zahidi | 15–20 °C • dry & dark • airtight | ~9–12 months sealed |
Avoid temperature shocks (condensation). Let sealed packs acclimatize before opening.
Copy-Paste RFQ (Spec-Driven)
Subject: RFQ — <VARIETY> Dates (Size-Count & Grade), <CITY>, <MONTH YEAR> Specs: • Variety & Origin: <e.g., Medjool — Jordan / USA> • Size-count / Grade: <e.g., 18–22 / Jumbo> • Crop Year: <YYYY> • Pack: <5 kg / 10 kg> (retail masters if any) • Quantity: <first PO / monthly> • Delivery: <City, State> | Lead time: <range> • Docs: FSSAI reg., batch/lot, CoA; tests if applicable • Incoterm/Payment: <FOB/CIF/Ex-warehouse ; terms> Please quote landed ₹/kg by grade and send 1–2 kg samples.
FAQs
Medjool (18–22 / 22–26) for amenities; Deglet Noor/Zahidi for kitchen ops where ambient stability matters.
Always compare same variety + same count/kg + same crop year; request written specs and photos.
Recommended for soft/moist types in warmer months to protect texture and reduce returns.
Check the separate Top-10 Best Dates (2025) guide.
do your research Deglet Noor Dates is Algerian
ReplyDeleteWhether I grow bananas in Algeria or Uganda, I hope the fruit will always be called a banana 🍌.
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