EAT IN ASIA / Food destinations / Oman - omani food
The most popular dates in Oman
Selecting the best date type might be a difficult task if you are not familiar with all their types, varieties and characteristics. This task gets even more complicated if you are in a country where you have many choice options. There the selection is wider than usually and not limited to two or three most popular types. This happens in countries like Oman, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Tunisia, Qatar, Iran and all other countries where dates are being cultivated.
As for the moment, let’s concentrate on these dates that are the most popular and the most available in Oman. We prepared a limited list of some of date varieties with a short description to help ypu choose your favourite. Remember that this list is based on our own experiences and opinions, so if it is about the sweetness level, texture and so on, all is our personal impression and is also impacted by the tasting region and the shop.
The list of the most popular date varieties in Oman
Sagai
Sagai dates mainly originate from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. What is characteristic for them is the pale upper part – this close to the branch. This part is also relatively dry. The rest of these dates is brown and quite soft.
Safawi
Safawi are another very popular date variety in Oman. These dates also originate mainly from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Their color is dark, almost black. Safawi dates are medium sized and are relatively long. Their shape is straighter than round. They are semi dried and have a soft texture.
Khudri
Khudri dates also originate mainly from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. They are very sweet and have a characteristic, slightly chewy texture. Khudri dates are soft and of a relatively small size. Their shape is rounded. The color is brown with a delicate inclination to the black one.
These dates are very often used for the cooking purposes due to their texture and their sweetness level.
Mabroom
Mabroom dates are another variety dates from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. They are very sweet and have a characteristic texture. They are both chewy and firm what makes them ideal for storing for a longer time. They are narrow, big size and two-colored. The dominating one is a light reddish brown and the second one is a subtle ochre one. These pale vertical wrinkles are characteristic for Mabroom dates and allows you to easily distinguish them from other big sized dates - Medjool dates. Their taste slightly resembles toffee notes.
Ajwa
Ajwa dates from Saudi Arabia and Qatar have an intense, almost black color. They have an oval like shape and their size is medium. The texture is soft and relatively dry. Prune notes are the most dominating in their aroma. Apart from that, the Ajwa palm tree is considered to be one of the most ancient palm trees.
Fard
Fard dates originate mainly from Oman. They are semi-sweet and have a firm texture, I would say that their texture is slightly fibrous. However, the flesh is soft and relatively thick. What is nice about this Fard variety is the fact that the seed is small. Fard dates have an almost ideal brown color and the skin is slightly glossy. Given the fact that these dates have a good ration flesh to seed and that they are medium sweet, Fard dates are very often used for cooking and baking.
Khalas
Khalas dates are widely cultivated in Oman. These dates belong to the list of the most valuable ones. Khalas dates have a pale brown color. The color might be compared to the caramel one. This comparison applies both to the flesh and to the skin but only when they are dried. When fresh, the color of Khalas dates is almost yellow. Their texture is extremely soft and smooth. When eaten, they almost melt in the mouth.
Sukkari
Sukkari dates are another melting in the mouth dates like Khalas dates. They are relatively small and their texture is very soft. The flesh is not chewy. Sukkari dates are very sweet. Their color is pale almost caramel like.
Doha dates with dried fruits and nuts
Stuffing dried, big date varieties is very popular in many Middle East countries. These dates are usually cut along their longer diameter and filled with nuts and dried fruits like figs, candied kiwi and apricots. These delicacies look like little gems. They are colorful and nicely packed. Especially popular are stuffed Doha dates from Qatar. These dates are of a premium quality. They are delicate, medium sweet and semi soft varieties. These dates are semi dried, what means that they create a very nice combination of flavors and textures when stuffed with nuts and dried fruits. Usually chestnuts, hazelnuts and pistachio nuts are used for stuffing. Less popular are cashew nuts and peanuts. All these nuts are usually unsalted and not roasted what gives you the opportunity of enjoying only natural tastes. They are also a great alternative for regular sweets and desserts. Apart from that they are vegan and very often organic.
Learn more about dates reading our posts How to choose the best dates in Oman and Tunisian dates and date products – all you need to know before buying and eating them.
Author: Beti – A passionate traveler and lover of Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Japanese dishes, Bernadeta brings her culinary and cultural experiences to life in her writing. Beyond her travels, she’s an avid technology enthusiast with a deep interest in data processing, merging her love for exploration with analytical insights.
Photographer: Adalbert – An aficionado of computers and photography, Adalbert captures the essence of diverse cuisines with a discerning eye. A connoisseur of rich flavors and particularly fond of meat-based dishes, he combines his technical skills with his passion for the culinary arts in every shot.
