Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)
At Lizq Oasis, we grow some of the most popular date varieties, Fardh, Khalas and Khunaizi using only natural fertilisers and methods of hand pollination.
The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is among the first perennial plants domesticated by early agricultural civilisations in the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula. As early as 4000BC, the date palm was revered as the sacred tree of Sumerian mythology and has been synonymous with fertility and abundance up to the present day. Unusually for a fruit tree, the date palm is considered a staple crop supplying Arabia’s inhabitants with most of their energy and nutrient needs since antiquity.
Date palm fruits are a source of instant energy due to their concentrated natural sugars, and are high in dietary fibre. They are rich in essential minerals (iron, potassium, calcium, manganese, copper, selenium and magnesium), vitamins (A, K and B-complex) and phytochemicals (carotenoids, phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, ferulic acid). Studies on the anti-oxidant effect of these substances support the use of dates in Ayurveda and folk medicine to boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and protect against diabetes and heart disease.
Oman is famous for the quantity, quality and variety of its dates. Date palm cultivation has been the mainstay of agriculture for the past 5000 years. Dates remain the most important crop today with Oman ranked eighth in the world for production. Nearly 8 million palm trees comprising 250 indigenous varieties of date grow on 20,000 hectares, half of all cultivated land, and produce more than 300,000 tonnes of dates annually.
At Lizq Oasis, we grow some of the most popular date varieties, Fardh, Khalas and Khunaizi using only natural fertilisers and methods of hand pollination. We harvest our dates from July to September taking care in the post-harvest phase to avoid dust and insect contamination. Our dates are expertly sorted by hand, washed, dried and packed into food grade cartons in a hygienic indoor environment.
Check out our recipe section for inspiration on how to incorporate this delicious fruit into sweet and savoury dishes as well as healthy snacks.
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