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Quick answer
Fard dates are a firm, semi-dry, dark brown to black date grown mainly in Oman and the UAE. They are chewy rather than sticky, medium in size, and keep well at room temperature. Kimia dates are softer, moister and darker, with a melting texture, but they need the fridge. Fard is the everyday date; Kimia is the indulgent one.
What exactly is a Fard date?
Fard is a date palm variety, a named cultivar, long grown in the oases of Oman and in the UAE. The fruit is medium sized and oval, with a thin skin and a dark, almost black colour once ripe. It is harvested late and dried to a semi-dry stage, which is why it holds its shape, does not ooze syrup, and can sit in a jar on the kitchen shelf for weeks.
The taste is a clean, mellow sweetness with a hint of caramel, less intense than the soft dates. That makes it the date many families eat every day, one or two at a time. The Wikipedia page on the date palm covers the main cultivars and where they grow.
How are Fard dates different from Kimia?
Kimia is the name Indian shops use for the soft, very dark dates from the Bam region of Iran, the variety known as Mazafati. Here is how the two compare side by side, with our third black date for reference:
| What to compare | Fard | Kimia | Black dates (khajoor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Oman, UAE | Iran (Bam, Mazafati) | Mixed Gulf origins |
| Texture | Firm, chewy, semi-dry | Very soft, moist, melting | Soft to semi-soft |
| Stickiness | Low | High | Medium |
| Sweetness | Mellow | Rich, deep | Sweet |
| Storage | Room temperature, airtight | Fridge | Cool place or fridge |
| Best for | Daily eating, tiffin, travel | Dessert, with milk, guests | Cooking, shakes, laddoo |
If you prefer dates that taste like toffee and melt as you bite, Kimia is your date. If you want something to keep in a bag or a tiffin without sticky fingers, Fard is.
Why are there three black dates on the shelf?
Because buyers want different things. Each of the three does one job better than the others:
- Fard for daily eating and carrying around, firm and tidy.
- Kimia for the dessert plate, milk at night and guests, soft and rich.
- Black dates (khajoor) for cooking, khajur shake, date laddoo and chutney, where the date is blended or cooked anyway.
Our guide to the types of dates covers the lighter dates too, from Kalmi to Medjool and Ajwa. For the soft Iranian date on its own, see the Kimia dates price post.
What do Fard and Kimia cost today?
Across the dates we keep, khajur works out to at today's shop rate today. Fard Black Dates are at today's shop rate, and Kimia Black Dates are at today's shop rate. Every date we stock is on the khajur price page.
Fard usually sits lower than Kimia. Part of that is the variety and part is the handling: Kimia’s moisture means it has to be kept cool all the way from the packing house to your kitchen.
How do you store Fard dates?
Fard is the easiest date to keep. These habits keep it at its best:
- Move the dates to a clean, dry, airtight jar once opened.
- Keep the jar away from the stove and sunlight.
- At room temperature, use within six to eight weeks. In the fridge, three to four months.
- If white sugar spots appear on the skin, that is the date’s own sugar crystallising. It is safe; a few seconds of warm air or a short warm-water rinse brings the skin back.
Kimia, by contrast, should go in the fridge from day one, especially in summer.
How many Fard dates a day, and for whom?
Two to three Fard dates a day is a common adult habit. Each weighs around 8 to 10 g, with roughly 25 calories. Many people have one after lunch in place of a sweet, or two with a glass of milk before bed. For children, one or two chopped dates in porridge or milk is usual. If you have diabetes or are watching your sugar, please speak to your doctor about whether dates suit you and how many.
How to add Fard dates to an order
Dates rarely come alone. A practical household basket is 500 g Fard dates for the daily jar, 500 g kaju and 500 g badam; orders start at ₹1,000 and every order ships free. If the house also likes something soft for dessert, add a 250 g pack of Kimia. Every date is in our dates collection.
Questions people ask
What is the Fard black dates price?
The live price for each pack size is shown on the Fard Black Dates product page and on our khajur price page. Fard is usually one of the more affordable black dates, below soft Kimia and well below Medjool or Ajwa.
Fard dates vs Kimia: which is better?
Neither is better overall. Fard is firmer, less sticky and keeps at room temperature, so it suits daily eating. Kimia is soft and rich and suits dessert and milk. Many homes keep both.
Are black dates (khajoor) and Fard the same?
Fard is one specific variety of black date. “Black dates” in Indian shops is a broader name that can cover several dark varieties. Fard is known for its firm, semi-dry texture.
Do Fard dates need to be refrigerated?
Not necessarily. They keep for several weeks in an airtight jar in a cool cupboard. Refrigerate them if you are storing for longer or if your kitchen gets very hot in summer.
Written at our counter, where these questions get asked every week.
