HAPPYNUTS

Phoenix dactylifera (date; date palm) is a palm in the genus Phoenix, since ancient times, man cultivated for its edible sweet fruit and used as a high valuable food product.
Iran, one of the largest dates producers in the world. Iran has the annual production of dates, almost a million tones and more than 400 kinds of Iranian dates. Among the 400 kinds of dates more than 15 well-known in the international market and are exported worldwide.
Types of dates
Mazafati: This fresh date grows in Kerman region. Mazafati dates, is one of the major products of Iran, highly popular dates type in Iran and the rest of world. It has a purplish to black color, and is fleshy, juicy and it’s taste very delicious.
Sayer (Sair) or Estamaran: This semi-dried date is one of the most abundant date species in Iran; it grows in the Khozestan region. It is slightly elongated, oval and the coloring of this kind is dark brown.
This date is purchased by many countries and it is available in three types of seeded, seedless and chopped.
Zahedi: This type is a late-ripening date and is grown in almost all regions of Iran. The Zahedi date is used for industrial purpose because of its high sugar content, and it is also a popular item for export.
The Zahedi date is firm, shiny, and wrinkled; the flesh of dates is completely separated from the seed of the fruit. The top of the fruit has a dark color (from a bright brown color to a dark red) and on the end, near the cap, it is buff-colored.
Piarom: This type of date is one of the most delicious semi-dried dates in the world. It is long with a dry texture and is generally have a yellowish and brown color with a thin peel. This type is among the late-ripening type of dates. Piarom dates are rich in carbohydrates, protein and other minerals and have a high nutritional value. Piarom dates have a kind of sugar that suitable for diabetic people.
Kabkab: Kabkab dates are grown in different areas of Iran. It is a coarse date with small seed; it’s from dark red to dark brown. This date has high moisture and famous as mellow honey dates.
Khasouei (Khasse): Khasse or Khasouei date is a favorable type. It is sweet and tasty. Depending on the area of growing, it usually appears in different colors from light golden yellow to light brown, from red to dark brown and from deep red to dark purple.
Rabbi Date: This is one of the popular types, colored dark-brown to black semidry dates. Rabbi has thin skin, is juicy, with a little seed and is the most early-ripening type of Iranian dates. Rabbi dates are extremely popular, so that often it pre-sells before production. This type is also used as an industrial date.
There are also other kinds of dates, such as Shahani, Gantar, Dayri etc. In addition, there are dates available as chopped into pieces, date powder, date honey, date syrup and date paste. These products can also be supplied upon request.

Dates

Nutritional value per 100 g of product

Energy value 277 kcal 1160 kJ

water 21.32 g	proteins 1.81 g of
fats 0.15 g	carbohydrates 74.97g
- disaccharides	66,47 g
- lactose	0,00 g
- dietary fiber	6,7 g
Retinol ( vitamin A)	7 mcg
β-carotene	89 mcg
Thiamine (B1)	0,050 mg
Riboflavin (B2)	0,060 mg
Niacin (B3)	1,610 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)	0,805 mg
Pyridoxine (B6)	0,249 mg
Folacin (B9)	15 mcg
Ascorbic acid (vit. С)	0,0 mg
Vitamin D	0,0 mcg
Vitamin K	2,7 mcg
Calcium	64 mg
iron	0,90 mg
Magnesium	54 mg
Phosphorus	62 mg
Potassium	696 mg
Sodium	1 mg
Zinc	0,44 mg
Copper	0,362 mcg
Manganese	0,296 mcg

Iranian Dates standards

In order to export, date producers in Iran must observe the following conditions which have been
arranged by institute of standard & industrial research of Iran.

Without live vermin
Maximum verminous date: 7%
Maximum other kinds and forms: 2%
Maximum crushed and damaged date: 3%
Maximum percent of unripe date: 2%
Maximum color variation date: 3%
Maximum external material: 6%
Maximum black and dark head: 9%
Note 1: These conditions relate to Sayer kind and other kinds of date have a little different condition.
Note 2: Percentage of moisture in each kind is different from other kinds. For example moisture of
Sayer and Zahedi is about 16% to 18% but moisture of Mazafati and Kabkab is about 20% to 22%
Packaging:
Commercial packing: Date packs in 5kg., 10 kg. or 15 kg. carton.
Small packing: Date packs in 500 g. to 1 kg. cellophane package.

Loading capacity
Variety Size Capacity
Sayer 20 f 18 tons
Sayer 40 f 25-26 tons
Mazafati, Kabkab 20 f (refrigerated container) 12-14 tons
Mazafati, Kabkab 40 f (refrigerated container) 22-24 tons
Zahedi, Piarom 20 f 18-19 tons
Zahedi, Piarom 40 f 25-26 tons
Note: Mazafati and Kabkab dates need refrigerated container.

In Tunisia, two southern regions are known as being the home spot of the date palm: Tozeur and Kébili.
In fact, in these two regions, 100 000 Metric Tons of dates are harvested 70 000 of which belong to the Deglet Noor variety.
Today known about eighteen hundred varieties of dates in the world, fifty six date varieties are growing in Tunisia. Date palm for Tunisians means not just a tree, that giving tasty and healthy fruit. Tunisians use its wood planks in furniture producing and palm branches - in making weaving mats and baskets. Date palms can take 5 to 8 years after planting before they will bear fruit, and produce viable yields for commercial harvest between 7 to 25 years.
Deglet Noor, kind of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera). Etymologically, the word derives from "Dedzhla"; it's the Arabic name of the Tigris River in Iraq. Although its place of origin is unknown because of long cultivation, it probably originated from lands around Iraq. This variety is also called the "Queen of dates" and "miniature sun", its fruit, really, glows in the sun.
All Deglet Noor Dates are hand pitted individually thereby ensuring highest quality and best taste. Grown under ideal conditions in the Saharan desert, Deglet Noor dates are of the highest quality in the world. Tended for centuries their golden color, texture, and outstanding sweet taste set them apart from the rest.
The unique combination of a significant amount of vitamins and minerals, microelements, proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids allows for dates not only as food, but also use against many diseases as an adjunct to drug therapy.
Scientists have shown that dates contain a lot of useful substances to human health, and thanks to the unique nutritional value dates outmatch to almost all fruits. Dates are called "desert’s honey", dates are an excellent source of fiber and high energy for good health.
Dates are one of the amazing creations of nature. Dates are one of the few products, which can be stored for a long time without losing useful and nutritional properties; also dates are a perfect ingredient in baked foods, dairy products, cereals, and confections.
Branched dates, which have frosted (matted) color, are the highest quality and natural one. Throughout the world, especially in North Africa, most appreciate branched Deglet Noor dates.
Branched Deglet Noor, for dates experts symbolize a kind of indication of the quality and genuineness of the product.

Main Types of Tunisian Dates
Deglet Noor: The Deglet Noor date, “the date of the bright light” is well-known for its unique taste, its particular aroma, its yellow-golden color and its nutritional value. In Tunisia, this variety is of higher market value and it is the highest-valued variety on international markets.

Branched Deglet Noor: It is the queen of all dates. The most appreciated for its superior quality and its unique honeyed taste. It is traditionally called "Fruit of bright light" for its translucent color, the softness of its appearance and elegance of its shape.

Standard Dates (well-ripened, simply plucked): Deglet Noor trendy color amber brown. Selected according to their size and texture, standard dates are dates in their natural state, clipped off from the branches.

Common Dates
The Tunisian palm grove has a total of over 300 date cultivators. They all carry the generic name of “common dates”. But only 6 of them are of economic interest. These are: Allig, Khaouat Allig, Kenta, Kentichi, Fermla and Horra. The first three are being exported on a large scale.

Alig dates are one kind of the Tunisian common dates. It has mahogany to dark brown color. This variety is mellow and has a rich and tasty flesh; soft to semi-soft type dates with water content of 18% to 22%.

Kenta dates are one kind of the Tunisian common dates. This kind is very light, yellowish date, soft to semi-soft with water content of 18% to 22%. It has the particularity of being precocious.

Khoulat Alig dates are one kind of the Tunisian common dates. Its color brown to dark brown, flesh is soft to semi-soft with water content of 18% to 22%. This date is characterized by its elongated, slender shape. Khoulat Alig dates commonly known as "sister" for its resemblance Allig in texture, color and taste.