Fun Facts About
...
Dates
... Nuts ... Apricots
... Pitted Prunes ... Calimyrna
Figs
Dates
People often ask
us, "Do all these dates really taste different?" And we always
answer with a resounding "YES!" Each variety of date not only
has its own distinctive taste, but also its own distinctive texture, sweetness
and size. When properly stored, dates keep exceedingly well. Stored in airtight
containers and kept in the refrigerator, dates will stay moist and delicious
for as long as 30 days. Dates can also be kept frozen for up to a year with
no loss of taste or quality.
Of the several geographic
areas in which date gardens thrive, the Bard Valley, 150 miles southeast
of Palm Springs, has proven to be on the most nurturing. The nutrient-rich
soil, from centuries of Colorado River flooding, infuses the Medjool with
unmatched richness.
Large, perfect and beautiful, Hadley Bard Valley Medjools are descendants
of those eleven original royal plants. With a rich mahogany color and
soft texture, it is the true connoisseur's date for both gift giving and
personal enjoyment.
Date
Varieties
Medjool
The Medjool is called the "King of Dates". Large, perfect and beautiful,
our Medjools have a rich mahogany color and a soft texture. It is a true
connoisseur's date for gift giving and personal enjoyment.
Barhi
You will know this date by its almost perfectly round shape. A soft, dark
amber date - its flesh is thick, smooth, soft and translucent, and its
flavor is rich. It is also called the "Honeyball" for its sweet, creamy
texture.
Deglet
Noor
The Deglet is a medium firm date with a rich caramel color; not as sweet
as the soft dates. It stores very well and is as good for cooking as it
is for eating.
Khadrawi
A medium sweet date that is dark mahogany in color, with flesh that looks
dry but is actually very soft. The texture has been described as "like
pudding".
Honey
This date has the taste, color and texture of rich honey and is excellent
for a quick burst of natural sugar energy. Also, it is a wonderful dessert
day.
Abbada
or Black Date
This date is black in color, very sweet and creamy; so creamy it melts
in your mouth. It is a rare delicacy.
Golden
Princess
This date variety is elongated, amber in color, and chewy. It's known
for it's mild, traditional date flavor. This date is also called the "Halawy".
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Nutritional
Facts
Dates not only taste
great, they're great for you! A serving of five or six average California
dates contain about 20 calories each and are a good source of fiber, potassium,
vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates, without the sodium or fat found
in other snacks. A serving of dates helps fulfill the "2 to 4 servings
of fruit and vegetables a day" guideline of the USDA's "Food Pyramid".
Fiber
A serving of
dates provides approximately 14% of the USDA Recommended Daily Allowance
(RDA) of fiber, which has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Potassium
Eating dates and drinking water is an ideal, natural way to replenish
the body's need for potassium. One serving of dates contains about 240
milligrams of potassium, or 7% of the RDA, of this essential nutrient.
In fact, weight for weight, dates contain more potassium than do bananas.
Vitamins and Minerals
Dates contain a variety of B-complex vitamins. They contain thiamin, riboflavin,
niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid. These vitamins have a variety
of functions that help maintain healthy bodies.
Carbohydrates
A serving of dates contains about 31 grams of carbohydrates, making them
a powerhouse of energy. The carbohydrates found in dates, include about
three grams of dietary fiber and about 3 grams of naturally occurring
sugars, such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose. These carbohydrates provide
quick energy and are readily assimilated into, and used by, the body.
This makes dates a perfect choice as an energy-boosting snack.
Nuts
Nuts
are among the world's oldest foods, first gathered from the wild then
cultivated in ancient Greece as early as 300 B.C. They are a good source
of protein and contain significant amounts of vitamins and minerals. In
some diets, moderate amounts of nuts are used as a healthy alternative
to meat. Did you know these "nutty" facts?
Almonds
belong to the same family as roses -- along with apricots, cherries, peaches
and plums. The almond fruit is shaped like an elongated peach with fuzzy
green skin. When mature, the fruit's hull splits apart to reveal the almond
shell which holds the nut. An ages-old symbol of good luck, one ounce
of almonds contains 75 mg. of calcium (more than milk), .74 grams of fiber
(more than carrots), 6 grams of protein, and no cholesterol.
Pistachio
trees take from seven to ten years to mature and about twenty years to
become fully productive.
Cashews
come from a tropical evergreen that is related to the mango, the pistachio
and the smoke tree.
Macadamia
nuts were discovered in 1857 in the subtropical rainforest of Queensland,
Australia, and have the hardest shell of any nut.
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Apricots
A fruit of ancient lineage,
apricots,
are higher in nutrients than almost any other fruit. And once dried their
nutritional value multiplies -- they are high in vitamin A and potassium,
are an excellent source of fiber and have the lowest calorie count of
any dried fruit.
It takes six pounds of tree-ripened fresh fruit to make just one pound
of dried apricots. They are hand-picked, then washed, pitted and halved.
After a light sulfuring process to preserve nutrients and color, and several
days of sun drying, they're ready for snacking, mixing in granola or trail
mix, or as a tasty addition to your favorite recipes.
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