Medjool dates: how they compare with ajwa, kalmi, kimia and fard, and how to use them

Pick one up and the difference is obvious: a single Medjool can be two or three times the size of an ordinary khajur. The flesh is thick and fudgy, the seed is small for the size of the fruit, and it tastes finished, like something already made into a sweet.

What are Medjool dates?

Medjool is a named date variety, originally from the Tafilalet region of Morocco. Today it is grown commercially in places with hot, dry climates, including parts of the Middle East and the south-western United States, and good lots from any of these can be excellent.

What a buyer should expect from Medjool Dates:

• Size: the largest date on most shelves, plump and oval.
• Colour: amber to reddish-brown, darker at the ends.
• Skin: thin, soft, loosely wrinkled; it may lift slightly from the flesh, which is normal.
• Flesh: soft, moist and dense, with a caramel or toffee note.

How are Medjool dates different from other dates?

Medjool is bigger, softer and richer than almost every other date. The table below puts it beside the varieties we keep on our dates shelf.

In short: Ajwa Dates for a mild date you eat a few of every day, Kimia Black Dates when you want something melt-soft, Fard Black Dates as the sensible everyday choice, and Medjool when the date is the dessert.

How do you choose good Medjool dates?

A good Medjool is plump, evenly coloured and soft when pressed, with skin that is wrinkled but not cracked open or crusted. Here is a quick checklist:

1. Press gently. It should give like a ripe fig. A rock-hard Medjool is old or badly stored.
2. Look for even size. A good lot is graded, so the dates in one box look alike.
3. Check for sugar spots. Small white specks on the skin are usually the date’s own sugar coming to the surface. It is harmless, but a lot of it means the dates are older.
4. Smell. Sweet and faintly caramel. Any sour or fermented smell means the lot has taken on moisture.
5. No fuzz. Grey or white fuzzy patches are mould. Throw those away.

Our longer guide on how to judge a khajur goes through these checks for every variety.

How should you store Medjool dates?

Store Medjool dates in an airtight container in the fridge. Because they are soft and moist, they keep far better cold than on a warm kitchen shelf, and refrigerated they stay good for months.

• For a box you will finish within a couple of weeks, a cool cupboard is fine.
• Keep them sealed. Open dates dry out on the surface and pick up smells from the fridge.
• They can be frozen for longer storage. They do not freeze solid, so you can take out a few at a time.
• Let chilled dates sit at room temperature for ten minutes before eating. The caramel flavour comes back as they warm.

How do you eat and use Medjool dates?

The simplest way is best: slit one down the side, pull out the seed, and eat it. Beyond that, Medjool is the most useful date in the kitchen because its flesh is so soft.

• Stuffed dates: fill the pitted date with a whole almond, a walnut half or a spoon of nut butter. Two or three make a small dessert.
• Date paste: soak pitted Medjools in warm water for fifteen minutes and blend to a thick paste to sweeten kheer, halwa, laddoos or baking.
• Milkshakes and smoothies: two pitted dates blended with milk and a few almonds make a thick shake with no added sugar.
• Energy bites: pulse dates with nuts and seeds, roll into balls and chill.
• Chopped into oats or salads: a little goes a long way.

For stuffing, our Walnut Kernels Two Pieces are the right size to sit neatly inside a Medjool.

How many Medjool dates can you eat in a day?

For most healthy adults, one to three Medjool dates a day is a sensible amount. Because each one is large, a Medjool counts for roughly two ordinary dates.

Per 100 g, Medjool dates provide about 277 kcal, about 75 g of carbohydrate, most of it natural sugar, about 7 g of fibre and a good amount of potassium. That makes them a filling sweet, but still a sweet. If you have diabetes, a kidney condition or are pregnant, ask your doctor how many suit you. For small children, always remove the seed and cut the date up.

We send Medjool and our other dates across India; orders start at ₹1,000 and every order ships free. See today’s price on the Medjool Dates page, or compare them on our premium dates page.

Questions people ask