Dates

The fresh date, just like when it arrives at maturity, is a fragile and delicate fruit to be transported. It’s rich in vitamin C. The dry date is more strongly dehydrated, it contains approximately 20 % of water, however 70 % for the fresh date. Its energy value is 287 kcal by 100 g.It’s very rich in sugars (glucose, fructose and saccharose). It also contains vitamins (B2, B3, B5 and B6) and a small quantity of vitamin C, mineral salts (potassium and calcium), it’s also rich in chromium (making cross the envy for sugar) as well as in fibers.

According to the interprofessional Grouping of Tunisian fruits, Tunisia is the first world exporter of « deglet nour ». The average annual sales are 30 000 tons among which 15 000 tons are intended to be for the only European market. Today France is the main importer from Europe and the biggest consumer of dates and in particular « deglet ennour » .

Characteristics of 4 varieties of dates harms fates in the export :
Deglet Nour: it is the reference date in quality term. It’s sold, most of the time, under the label « Date of Tunis » « datte de Tunis ».
Its translucent fair color and its unique flavour make us nickname it : " the date of the sun and the light ".
It is the only variety which can be sold whith its branches.

Kenta: it arrives at maturity at the beginning of October. It is a rather stiff date, of light yellow color, less sweet than the others.

Allig: this soft and exceptionally sweetened date is picked in November. It’s of mahogany color and its flesh is supple and semi-dry.

Khuwat: it is another variety of semi-dry dates that is almost like "Allig" at the level of the color and the taste, in such signboard as we call her " the sister ", even if it is slightly finer and less sweetened.