A premium date is one that is large for its kind, soft all the way through, with a thin skin that sits close to the flesh and moisture that feels rich rather than wet. On our shelf that means Medjool, Ajwa, Kalmi (Safawi), Fard and Kimia, with everyday black khajoor beside them for the kitchen.
Each of the premium ones is good at something different, so the best quality date for you depends on whether it is for the fruit bowl, a gift box or the Ramzan table.
What makes a date premium
Dates have no number grade, so you judge them by eye and by touch.
- Size, within its kind. A Medjool should be big and an Ajwa will always be smaller. What matters is that the dates in one box are even, with no small, hard ones mixed in.
- Softness. Press one gently. A good soft date gives all the way to the stone. One that is soft on the outside and woody inside has been stored badly.
- Skin. Thin and close to the flesh. Some wrinkling is natural, especially on Medjool. A skin that has lifted away like a loose shell, or looks dusty and pale, means the date has dried out.
- Moisture. A premium date is glossy and slightly tacky. It should not be dripping syrup or sitting in a pool of it, and there should be no sour or fermented smell.
Our longer guide on how to judge a khajur before you buy it goes through this in more detail.
Saudi dates: Ajwa and Kalmi
When people search for Saudi dates, they usually mean the dates from around Madinah. We keep two of them.
Ajwa Dates are small to medium, almost black, and less sugary than most. The flesh is fine and a little dry. People who find other dates too sweet tend to settle on Ajwa, and many families buy them for Ramzan.
Kalmi / Safawi Dates are softer and moister, dark and sweet without being heavy. If a gift box has to please everyone in a family, Kalmi is the date we would put in it.
Omani dates and the rest of the shelf
Fard Black Dates usually come from Oman, and they are what most people mean by Omani dates. They are firmer and chewier than the Madinah dates, and a sensible choice for eating a few every day.
Kimia Black Dates are very soft, very dark and very sweet, with a thin skin. They are lovely to eat and the most delicate to keep.
Medjool Dates are the large, soft, caramel-tasting dates that most people picture when they hear “premium dates”.
Black Dates – Khajoor is our everyday date: soft, sticky and honest, and the one to use for laddoo, halwa and chutney, where a premium date would be wasted. You can see all of them together on our dates shelf.
Dates as a gift
Dates suit almost everyone and look generous in a box. A few things help.
- Pick one or two kinds, not five. Medjool with Kalmi, or Ajwa on its own, looks more considered than a little of everything.
- Stuff a few. A Medjool opened along one side with an almond or a walnut half inside is the simplest thing that looks special.
- Keep dates in their own sealed pack when they share a box with nuts, so the nuts stay crisp.
- Buy close to the day. Soft dates are at their best in the first few weeks.
Our dry fruit gift box page has more ideas, and custom boxes are arranged by messaging us on WhatsApp.
How to store premium dates
Soft dates hold a lot of moisture, which is what makes them good and also what makes them spoil.
- Once opened, move them to an airtight jar and keep them somewhere cool and dark.
- In hot or humid months, keep Medjool and Kimia in the fridge. Take out what you need a little while before eating so they soften again.
- Keep Ajwa and Fard in a cool cupboard in milder weather, and in the fridge in summer.
Orders start at ₹1,500, every order ships free, and delivery across India takes a few days.
Questions people ask
Which are the best quality dates?
There is no single best date. Medjool is the richest and largest, Ajwa is the least sweet, Kalmi is the easiest to like, and Fard is the most practical for daily eating. Choose by how you will eat them.
Are Omani dates and Saudi dates different?
Yes. On our shelf, the Omani date is Fard, which is firmer and chewier. The Saudi dates are Ajwa and Kalmi from around Madinah, which are finer and, in Kalmi’s case, softer.
Can people with diabetes eat premium dates?
All dates are high in natural sugar, whatever the grade. Anyone with diabetes should ask their doctor how many, if any, suit them.
How long do soft dates keep?
Kept sealed in a cool place, a few weeks. In the fridge, noticeably longer. If they harden, they are still fine to chop into milk or a shake.