Best Iraqi Fruits (types and products) Types
Barhi dates are a type of date fruit from Iraq that is small, round to oval, with curved and blunt edges, often with a stem still attached. They are considered one of the sweetest types of dates and can be consumed in all stages of ripeness: yellow and semi-ripe or khalal, fully ripe or rutab, and dried, wrinkled, and dark brown or tamr.
The semi-ripe barhi dates are sweet, slightly astringent, and crisp. They are eaten fresh and are available only for a few weeks in August and September in markets in select dry and hot climates. As barhi dates mature and turn amber and brown, they become more dry, sticky, and creamy and now classify as rutab and tamr.
Halawi dates are a popular date variety, first cultivated in deserts of modern-day Iraq. They are medium-sized, elongated and oval, with dark amber color, buttery caramel-like flavor, soft texture, and pronounced but not overbearing sweetness (their name translates to "sweet" in Arabic).
Like all other varieties, halawi dates are rich in fibers, antioxidants, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium. They are mostly consummed fresh and fully ripe, and are successfully used as a substitute for more popular medjool and deglet nour cultivars in various desserts, porridges, stews, and pilafs.
Zahidi dates are a type of palm dates from Iraq that are medium-sized, round, and golden in color, with a sweet, nutty, caramel-like flavor reminiscent of caramel popcorn and dried apricots. These dates are on the drier, chewier side, and when compared to Medjool dates, and less sweet, while the sugar in the dates is sucrose, not fructose.
Since they ship well, zahidi dates are exported on a large scale.
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