All About Medjool Dates

At Coachella’s Best Organic Dates, we love every single variety! And while we’d never pick favorites, the Medjool Date is one of our go-to choices. Here’s the rundown on why we are so passionate about these little superfruits.

What are Medjool Dates?
There are over 1,500 different Date varieties grown throughout the world! Medjool Dates are one of the most well known and popular types of Dates, probably because of its versatility and delicious taste. Chances are when you think of Dates, you’re thinking of Medjools.

Medjool Dates are wrinkly and look like a giant raisin, but despite their appearance, they are actually a fresh fruit with a rich, caramel taste. When you bite into them, you will find a soft, chewy texture. Just make sure to watch out for the pit! Some packaged Medjool Dates will come pitted, but most are straight from the tree, pit and all. 

How are Medjool Dates Grown?
Dates grow on Date palm trees, which flourish in warm climates. That’s where we get our name- the desert climate of Coachella Valley in California is the prime environment to grow Dates. In fact, the Valley produces more than 90% of the Dates grown in the United States!

Growing Medjool Dates takes commitment. It takes about seven years before a Date palm starts producing fruit. Once that happens, farmers and palmeros need to retrieve the Dates about 12-15 times a year. 

Medjool Dates are harvested from the Date palm, cleaned, sorted based on moisture content and skin texture, and then packaged right away. There are no additives or processing of the Dates and they are never physically or chemically dried. In fact, you can usually find them in the produce section of the grocery store with the other fresh fruits.

The Medjool Date originally came to the United States from Morocco in the 1920’s. Only 11 Medjool Date palms were transported from Morocco to Nevada in 1927, and they were planted in Yuma in the 1940’s. Six of the original 11 are still standing and producing Dates in the Yuma Date gardens today, and are affectionately referred to as the BIG SIX!

Dirty Dates?
You may have noticed that your Medjool Dates sometimes have a dusty, white coating on them. This does not mean they are dirty- it’s actually the crystallization of the natural sugars. It's completely fine to eat, but if you don’t like the way it looks or want your Dates to look prettier on a charcuterie board, try wrapping them in a damp paper towel and microwaving for 5 seconds. The Date will plump right up and the sugar will reabsorb back into the fruit.

Storing Medjool Dates
Medjool Dates can be kept at room temp, but will last longer if you store them in the refrigerator and then let them sit out a few minutes before eating or cooking them. Kept cold, they can last for months!

Health Benefits of Medjool Dates
Medjool dates are often referred to as a “superfruit” (or as we at Coachella’s Best Organic Dates like to call them, “nature’s vitamins”) because they are packed with tons of vitamins and offer many health benefits. In just one cup of chopped Medjool Dates, you are getting about 288 mg of Potassium, 567 IU of Vitamin A, 81.2 mg of Vitamin C, .07 mg of Vitamin E, 92.5 mg of Vitamin K, 57.3 mcg of Folate, 2.6 grams of Protein, .07 mg of Iron, 6.0 grams of Carbohydrates and more. Together, these vitamins create many health benefits including improved heart health, weight loss, bone strength, regulated menstrual cycle, and skin health. They are also an energy booster, great for pregnancy, and help to prevent Alzheimer's, hemorrhoids and cancer. Pretty super, right?!

How to Eat Medjool Dates
Medjool Dates are incredibly versatile and can be eaten in SO many delicious ways. Eat them on their own, convert them into a Date syrup, or use them as a sugar substitute. You can also stuff dates, cut them up into salads, bake them into sweets, or mix them into a smoothie. 

Check out all of the unique treats we’ve come up with on the recipe page of our website, and let us know what you love about Medjool Dates!