List of date cultivars explained

A large number of date cultivars and varieties emerged through history of its cultivation, but the exact number is difficult to assess. Hussain and El-Zeid[1] (1975) have reported 400 varieties, while Nixon[2] (1954) named around 250. Most of those are limited to a particular region, and only a few dozen have attained broader commercial importance. The most renowned cultivars worldwide include Deglet Noor, originally of Algeria; Zahidi and Hallawi of Iraq; Medjool of Morocco; Mazafati of Iran.[3]

Most of the information in the following list is from Date Palm Genetic Resources and Utilization by Al-Khayri et al. (2015).[4] [5]

List

width=15%Namewidth=15%Countrywidth=15%Native namewidth=45%Noteswidth=10%Image
Abdel RahmanYemen
AbelLibya
Abid Raḥim, AbidraḥimSudanArabic: عبد رحيمIn Nigeria, it is called Dabino.
Abyadh (Bathri, seeded)Yemen
AdemouMorocco
Aghous (Aguis)Niger
AglanyEgypt
AguelidMorocco
AhardaneMorocco
Ahmar DancaMauritania
Ahmar DliMauritania
Aïssa-IyoubMorocco
AjwaSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:العجوة (تمر)|العجوة]]
AkaniromNiger
Al SahagiYemen
Al-FalhaMauritania
Alfat Al-BahouaMauritania
Alfat Foum AgadirMauritania
Al-HanaouiaMauritania
AligTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:العليقي|العليقي]]
AlmadeynaNiger
AlmehtariIran
Amari, AmeriBahrain
Israel
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:عماري (تمر)|عماري]]
AmchekhssiMauritania
AmhatEgypt
Amir Hajj or Amer HajjIraqSoft with a thin skin and thick flesh, sometimes called "the visitor's date" because it is a delicacy served to guests.
Ammari, Ammary, AmryTunisia
Egypt
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:عماري (تمر)|عماري]]
AnagowChadArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:أنقو|أنقو]]
Anbara, AnbarahSaudi Arabia
Kuwait
Arabic: Arabic: عنبرة
AngouTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:أنقو|أنقو]]
ArdousowChad
AriboChad
Arichti, Arichty, RochtyTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:عرشتي|عرشتي]]
ArsandowChad
Asabia el AroosYemen
AsadaSudan
AṣeelPakistanUrdu: أصيلDates from Pakistan that are pitted and diced
AshhalBahrain
AshrasiSyriaArabic: Arabic: اشرسي
AswadQatar
AtratinnaNiger
AwaidiKuwait
AzatQatar
AzigzaoMorocco
Aziza BouzidMorocco
AzzaniYemen
BaghaberhaNiger
BagouniaNiger
BamourLibya
Banat - AlabadeBahrain
Banat - AlssyidBahrain
BaqalYemen
BarakawiSudanArabic: Arabic: بركاوي
BarbosaYemen
Barḥi, BarḥeeBahrain
India; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Kuwait; Palestine; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Djibouti; Sudan
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:برحي|برحي]]Nearly spherical, light amber to dark brown when ripe; soft, with thick flesh and rich flavour. One of the few varieties that are good in the khalal stage when they are yellow (like a fresh grape, as opposed to dry, like a raisin).
BarniOmanArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:برني (تمر)|برني]]
Barni MadinahSaudi Arabia
Bartamoda, BarttamodaEgypt
Sudan
BasbrikMauritania
BashbakQatar
BayaḍSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:بياض (تمر)|بياض]]
BaydirAlgeria[6]
Begum JangiPakistan
BeiḍSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: بيض
Bejjou or bejouTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الباجو|الباجو]]
BeladiDjibouti
BelhazitMorocco
Bent-EishaEgypt
Bent QbalaAlgeria
BerniLibyaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:برني (تمر)|برني]]
BerzQatar
BestianLibya
Biḍ ḤamamTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:بيض_حمام|بيض حمام]]
Bin SaifQatar
Biraira, BireirSudanArabic: Arabic: برير
BirbinSyriaArabic: Arabic: بربن
Bisr ḤelouTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:بسر حلو|بسر حلو]]
BolliorSpain
BornowChad
BoucerdouneMorocco
Boufaggouss, Boufegous (Moussa)Tunisia
Morocco
BouhattamTunisia
BouijjouMorocco
BouittobMorocco
BoujiraMauritania
BoukhanniMorocco
BourarMorocco
BouskriMorocco
BouslikheneMorocco
BousthamiMoroccoBlack (kahla) and white varieties
BoutemdaMorocco
BouzeggarMorocco
Braim, BreimKuwait
Iran
BrismiBahrain
Bu NarenjahOman
BuchairahBahrain
BuraimiSaudi Arabia
Candíos PuntiagudosSpain
Candits, Cándidos, MadurosSpain
Cheikh Mhammed (Sheikh Mohammed)Algeria
ChoddakhTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:شداخ|شداخ]]
ConfiteraSpain
DabbasUnited Arab Emirates
DaghPakistan
DatçaTurkey
Dan HaoussaNiger
Daurat, DoradoSpain
DayriIran
Iraq; Israel
Arabic: Arabic: ديريThe "Monastery" date, these are long, slender, nearly black, and soft.
De AdoboSpain
De BerberiaSpain
De EspigaSpain
De RamblaSpain
De SolSpain
DedhiPakistan
Degla BeidaAlgeria
Degla BidhaTunisia
Deglet NoorAlgeria
Chile; Peru; Tunisia; United States; Israel; Palestine; Saudi Arabia; Syria
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:دقلة_نور|دقلة نور]]
Dehdar MoradiIran
DhakkiPakistan
Dibinojeh naouraCameroon
DiloNiger
DogordowChad
EmpressIndio, CaliforniaDeveloped by the DaVall family from a seedling of Thoory. It is large, and is softer and sweeter than Thoory. It generally has a light tan top half and brown bottom half.
FaqurChad
Farḍ, FaraḍOman
Bahrain; Somalia
Arabic: Arabic: فرضDeep dark brown, tender skin, sweet flavor, small seed. Keeps well when well packed.
FasliPakistan
FermlaTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:فرملة|فرملة]]
FezzaniTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:فزاني|فزاني]]
Fṭimi or AlligueTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:فطيمي|فطيمي]]Grown in inland oases of Tunisia.
GabileyYemenArabic: Arabic: الجبيلي
GajjarPakistan
Gameye or NgamayaNiger
GargodaEgypt
Sudan
GharrahBahrain
GharsAlgeriaArabic: Arabic: غرس
Gharss Souf (Gharss Meṭṭig)TunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:غرس سوف|غرس سوف]] or Arabic: [[:ar:غرس مطيقي|غرس مطيقي]]
GhudaireyYemen
GhurSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الغر (تمر)|الغر]]
Gish RabiSyria
GoknahPakistan
Gonda, Gounda, GoundiTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:قندة|قندة]]
GondailaEgypt
Sudan
Goria FariNiger
Goria JaNiger
Goṣbi, GouṣbiTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:قصبي|قصبي]]
Gros, Cavirots, RedondosSpain
GuewassNiger
GulistanPakistan
GzazYemen
HadibNiger
HafsMorocco
Haji MohammadiIran
HajriYemen
Ḥalawi, ḤalawyIndia
Iran; Iraq; Israel; Palestine
Arabic: Arabic: حلاويSoft, and extremely sweet, small to medium in size.
HalimaLibyaHalima is a woman's name.
Hallaw/TarootBahrain
HalliniPakistan
Qatar
ḤalwaAlgeriaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الحلوة (تمر)|الحلوة]]
Ḥamra, Ḥamrah, ḤamriaTunisia
Yemen; Libya
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الحمراء (تمر)|الحمراء]]
HandhalOman
HaouaMorocco
HarissaDjibouti
HatimiBahrainArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:حاتمي_(تمر)|حاتمي]]
HayanyEgypt
Israel; Palestine
Hayani is a man's name – these dates are dark-red to nearly black and soft.
HilaliBahrain
Kuwait; Qatar; Saudi Arabia
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:هلالي|هلالي]]
HillawiPakistan
HissaTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:هيسة|هيسة]]File:HissaDates.JPG
HitmiQatar
HlouaTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الحلوة (تمر)|الحلوة]]
ḤorraTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:حرة (تمر)|حرة]]
ḤulwaSaudi Arabia, IraqArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الحلوة (تمر)|الحلوة]]
ḤumriBahrainArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الحميرة (تمر)|الحميرة]]
HussainiPakistan
IklaneMorocco
IlfodoneNiger
ImriDjibouti
IndiSri LankaSinhala; Sinhalese: ඉඳ
Jabiri, JabriBahrain
Oman; Qatar
Jawan SourPakistan
JihelMorocco
JouziKuwait
Judean date palmIsraelArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:نخل_يهودا|نخل يهودا]]An ancient cultivar which, in 2005, was revived from a 2000-year-old seed. This cultivar is originally from the west coast of the Dead Sea.
KaaniheryNiger
KabkabIran
Syria
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:خرمای کبکاب|کبکاب]]
KarbalinePakistan
KarwanPakistan
Kasho WariPakistan
KathariLibya
KehrabaPakistan
KentichiAlgeriaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:كنتيشي|كنتيشي]]
Khaḍrawi, KhaḍrawyDjibouti
India; Iraq; Israel; Palestine; Syria
Arabic: Arabic: خضراويThe name is Arabic for 'green'; it is a cultivar favoured by many Arabs. It is a soft, very dark date.
KhalaṣDjibouti
Sudan; Bahrain; India; Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:خلاص (تمر)|خلاص]]One of the major palm cultivars in Saudi Arabia. Its fruit is called (Arabic: خلاص). Notably produced in Hofuf (Al-Ahsa) and Qatif in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia (ash-Sharqīyah).
KharbalianPakistan
KhaṣabKuwait
Oman
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الخصاب (تمر)|الخصاب]]
Kisba, Kasbat - AsfoorDjibouti
Bahrain
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:كسبة|كسبة]]
KhaṣoueeIranArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:خرمای خاصوئی|خاصوئی]]
KhastawiIraq
Syria
Arabic: Arabic: خستاويThe leading soft date in Iraq; it is syrupy and small in size, prized for dessert.
KhawajaBahrain
Khenaizi, Khunaizi, Khuneizi, Khinaizy, KhinezeSaudi Arabia
Bahrain; Oman; India; Sudan; Syria; United Arab Emirates
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الخنيزي|الخنيزي]]
KhiḍriPalestineArabic: Arabic: خضري
KhoḍrySaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: خضري
KhyarahKuwaitArabic: Arabic: خياره
Kinta, KentaTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:تمر كنتة|كنتة]]
Koîdi bichangaChad
Koîdi dellémadowChad
KoîdowChad
KougoudouChad
KouhiChad
KoukoumaNiger
KourdowChad
KrouskrousNiger
KulmaSudan
KuproPakistan
KustawyPalestineArabic: Arabic: خستاوي
LagouTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:اللاقو|اللاقو]]
LakhdiraMauritania
LamdinaMauritania
LargosSpain
LemsiTunisia
LéonSpain
Libyan DegletLibya
LitimaAlgeria
LohandjéChad
Lolo, Lolwi, LuluSyria
Kuwait; United Arab Emirates
LoutedMauritania
Mabroom (Barni Al Ola)Saudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: مبرومA large, elongated date
MabsliOman
MadinaSudan
MadiniYemen
MadlokiOman
MahboulaMauritania
Mah-LbaïdMorocco
MaiwaNiger
Maktoom, Maktoomi, MaktoumiSyria
Kuwait; Saudi Arabia
Arabic: Arabic: مكتوميLarge, red-brown, thick-skinned, soft, medium-sweet date.
MalkabyEgypt
MalṭiTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:مالطي|مالطي]]
ManakbirA large fruit that ripens early.
MarchianoChad
MarranerSpain
Masli, MasiliOman
Somalia
MaazwatiPakistan
MéboulChad
Mech DeglaAlgeria
Medjool (Mujhoolah)Djibouti
Morocco; Chile; Peru; United States; India; Israel; Kuwait; Palestine; Saudi Arabia; Syria
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:تمر المجهول|المجهول]]A large, sweet and succulent date.
MéguirtiChad
MékléyaChad
MékoîdiChad
MektMorocco
MeneifiSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: منيفي
MerzibanBahrainArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:المرزبان|المرزبان]]
MestaliMorocco
MétéréliChad
MétoukouliChad
Mgmaget AyuobHun, Libya
MijrafYemen
Mishriq, MishrigSudan, meaning 'east'Wad Khateeb and Wad Laggai varieties in Sudan
MiskaniSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: مسكاني
MomegYemen
MordasengIran
MoscatelSpain
MourudowChad
Mozafati, Mazafati, MuzawatiIran
Pakistan
Persian: Persian: [[:fa:خرمای مضافتی|مضافتی]], meaning 'suburban' or 'peripheral'Dark, fleshy and sweet date of medium size with a relatively high moisture content and is suited for fresh consumption, i.e. not dried. At a temperature of NaNC it can be kept for up to 2 years.
MrizigaMauritania
MubashirBahrain
MudallalBahrain
MuwajiBahrain
Nabtat AliSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: نبتة علي
Nabtat SaifBahrain
Saudi Arabia; Syria
Arabic: Arabic: نبتة سيف
Nabtat SulṭanSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: نبتة سلطان
Nabut SultanDjibouti
NaghalOman
NajdaMorocco
Nebut SeifKuwait
Qatar
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:نبوت سيف|نبوت سيف]]
NemahanSomalia
NiqalQatar
Noyet MekaLibya
OmglaibLibya
OraibyEgypt
OtakinPakistan
Oum ArichMauritania
Oum-N’halMorocco
Oumo-AssalaDjibouti
OutoukdimeMorocco
PashpagPakistan
PiaromIranA large, thin-skinned, black-brown semi-dry date.
QanṭarKuwaitArabic: Arabic: قنطار
QashOman
QashmakQatar
QaṭarahSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: قطاره
Rabbi, RabaiIran
Pakistan
Persian: Persian: [[:fa:خرمای ربی|ربی]]
RabiaSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: ربيعة
Ras Lahmer, Ras LtmarMorocco
RoghniPakistan
RojoSpain
RoṭabIran, IraqArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:رطب|رطب]]Dark and soft.
Ruthana, RotanaSaudi Arabia
Qatar
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:روثانة (تمر)|روثانة]]
Ruzeiz, Rzaiz, RziziSaudi Arabia
Bahrain; Djibouti
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الرزيز|الرزيز]]
SabakaSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: سباكة
ṢaboBahrainArabic: Arabic: الصبو
ṢafawiSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: صفاويMainly grown in the Al-Madina region. Soft, semi-dried date variety; distinctive deep black colour, length and medium size. Share similarities with Ajwa dates such as taste.
ṢafrirIsraelHebrew: צפרירRed colored sweet dates that can be eaten immediately after being harvested from the tree
SahcariSomalia
Saiedi, SaidiLibyaSoft, very sweet, these are popular in Libya.
SailaLibyaSoft, very sweet, these are popular in Libya.
SaïrlayalateMorocco
SakkotyEgypt
SalaniOman
SalmadinaMauritania
SamanyEgypt
SamaranKuwait
SariSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: سري
SayerIran
Iraq
Arabic for 'common'Dark orange-brown, of medium size, soft and syrupy.
SeedlingSudan
Ṣefri, ṢufrySaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:صفري (تمر)|صفري]]
ṢegaeSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:صقعي (تمر)|صقعي]]
SellajSaudi Arabia
SelmiBahrain
SerfatehYemen
SetrawiBahrain
SewiIndia
ShabibiBahrain
ShahabiSyria
Shahal, ShahlSaudi Arabia
Oman
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:شهل|شهل]]
ShahaniIranArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:خرمای شاهانی|شاهانی]]
ShambariBahrain
ShamiyaEgypt
ShamranIndia
ShebebiSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الشبيبي|الشبيبي]]
SheeriDjibouti
Shaishi, ShishiSaudi Arabia
Bahrain; Kuwait; Qatar
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الشيشي|الشيشي]]
SilsBahrain
SiwyEgypt
SokotriYemen
SoukaniMauritania
Sukkari, Suckari, SokeriSaudi Arabia
Kuwait; Libya
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:سكري (تمر)|سكري]], meaning 'sugar' or 'sweet one'Yellow skinned; faintly resilient and extremely sweet, often referred to as 'royal dates'. It is arguably the most expensive and premium variety.[7]
SullajSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: سلج
SuqadariSomalia
TadmainteMorocco
TafezwinAlgeria
TaghayatNiger
TagiatLibya
Takarmust, TakermestAlgeria
Tunisia
TalharmaNiger
TalisLibya
TalittatNiger
TamegLibya
TamezwertAlgeria
TanghalNiger
TanjoobBahrain
TantbuchtAlgeria
TaqerbuchtAlgeria
TarahimQatar
TawraghNiger
Ṭayyar, ṬayerSaudi Arabia
Bahrain
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:الطيار (تمر)|الطيار]]
TenatSpain
Tendre DolzSpain
Tezerzayet, TouzerzayetTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:توزرزايت|توزرزايت]]Kahla and Safra varieties
Thoory (Thuri)AlgeriaPopular in Algeria, this dry date is brown-red when cured with a bluish bloom and very wrinkled skin. Its flesh is sometimes hard and brittle but the flavour described as sweet and nutty.
Tha'al (Manasif)Yemen
Tidirchi or ToudourchiNiger
Tiernos, TendreSpain
TifredMauritania
TiguedertMauritania
TijebMauritania
Tilmoiran or CliyaromNiger
TimjuhartAlgeria
TinterguelMauritania
TinwazidMauritania
TirtidouChad
TissibiAlgeria
TotaPakistan
TouzouwzawNiger
TrasferitLibya
TronjaTunisiaArabic: Arabic: [[:ar:ترنجة|ترنجة]]
TubaigYemen
Tunisi (Deglet Noor)Sudan
Um Raḥeem, Um RaḥimSaudi Arabia
Bahrain
Arabic: Arabic: أم رحيم
Um SellaOman
Um Al-DehnKuwait
Um Al-JwaryLibya
Um Al-KhashabSaudi ArabiaBrilliant red skin; bittersweet, hard white flesh
VerdalSpain
WalloChad
WannanaSaudi ArabiaArabic: Arabic: ونانة
WardQatar
WardangaChad
WaserdowChad
ZabadOman
ZaghloulEgypt
India; Syria
Arabic: زغلول|links=noDark red skin, long, and very crunchy when fresh (when they are typically served); extremely sweet, with sugar content creating a sense of desiccation in the mouth when eaten. This variety is essentially exclusive to Egypt, where it is subject to an element of nationalist sentiment on account of sharing a name with national hero Saad Zaghloul.
ZahidiDjibouti
Chile; Peru; India; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Palestine; Syria
Arabic: Arabic: [[:ar:تمر_الزهدي|الزهدي]]; Persian: Persian: [[:fa:خرمای زاهدی|زاهدی]]Medium-sized, cylindrical, light golden-brown semi-dry dates are very sugary, and sold as soft, medium-hard and hard. Arabic for 'ascetic'.
ZalaoChad
ZeburLibya
Zurghi (Makkawy)Yemen

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Saudi Arabia . 1975 . Studies on physical and chemical characteristics of date varieties of Saudi Arabia . Hussain . Fazal . El-Zeid . A.
  2. Nixon . R.W. . 1954 . Date culture in Saudi Arabia . Ann. Date Growers' Instit. . 31 . 15–20.
  3. Book: Jiwan S. . Sidhu . Y. H. . Hui. József . Barta. M. Pilar . Cano. Handbook of Fruits and Fruit Processing. https://books.google.com/books?id=Vu8gsgLeW-YC&pg=PA396. 391–396 . 22. Date Fruits Production and Processing. 28 February 2008. John Wiley & Sons. 978-0-470-27648-8.
  4. Book: Al-Khayri. Jameel M.. Jain. Shri Mohan. Johnson. Dennis V.. Date Palm Genetic Resources and Utilization. Springer Netherlands. Dordrecht. 2015. 1. 978-94-017-9693-4. 10.1007/978-94-017-9694-1. 40086887 .
  5. Book: Al-Khayri. Jameel M.. Jain. Shri Mohan. Johnson. Dennis V.. Date Palm Genetic Resources and Utilization. Springer Netherlands. Dordrecht. 2015. 2. 978-94-017-9706-1. 10.1007/978-94-017-9707-8. 41024508 .
  6. Jarvis . Devra Ivy . Enhancing the Use of Crop Genetic Diversity to Manage Abiotic Stress in Agricultural Production Systems (23-27 May 2005) . Budapest, Hungary . Indigenous knowledge in management of abiotic stress: Date palm genetic resources diversity in the oases of Maghreb region . 2006 . Bioversity International . Abdelmajid . Rhouma . Noureddine . Nasr . Abdelmalek . Zirari . Malek . Belguedj. 978-92-9043-722-2. 57–.
  7. News: Popular date palm fruit types: Sukkary dates . Fodakty . 2018-10-19. en.