FRESH BARHI DATES

The Barhi Date is the sweetest and softest of all dates. Frozen they are like caramel candy. Also available in the Khalal stage (Yellow barhi) only in August

• Common Name: Barhee Date
• Vernacular Names: Barhi date
• Specimens From: Israel
• Specimens Weight: 18 gm (average weight per fruit)
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Dates are immensely popular and a stable food in the arab world since it is native to the persian gulf, dating back to at least several thousand years BC. It had since spread to most of the tropical countries where there are plenty of direct sunlight.

Barhee date is one of the popular and common dates among the numerous cultivars. "Numerous" because there are several thousands of them but most of them are virtually unknown. They are not commercially available because the taste are considered as inferior.

Barhee date can be eaten when in the raw, semi-ripe (Khalal) stage (refer to top photo). In this stage, it is golden yellow or amber and it is crispy and crunchy, similar to eating an apple. The taste is slightly sweet with a slight tinge of astringency. It is an acquired taste, especially those who taste a fresh date for the first time.

It will turn brownish and soft with the skin peeling off, when it is ripe (rutab) and it tastes sweet & juicy. This type of dates are usually eaten fresh or at least, in the ripe stage and seldom in the final dried, wrinkled (tamr) stage. At any stage, no peeling is required, just eat it as it is.

Every date has a seed and the seed always reminds me of a brown cowry shell. Well, at least to me. Just don't eat the seed. So, do you want a date? I mean, want to eat some dates?