Medjoul Dates: A Spotlight on Our Palestinian Dates
Medjoul dates are one of the most distinctive items in our dried fruit range, but they're often left in the shadow of more familiar snacking staples like raisins and apricots. If you haven't tried them yet, here's what makes them worth a spot in your cupboard, plus a few practical notes on using and storing them.
Where ours come from
Our Medjoul dates are grown in the Jericho area of the West Bank, in the Jordan Valley. This region's warm, dry climate and long growing season suit Medjoul palms particularly well, which is part of why the variety is so strongly associated with it. Ours are the large, jumbo grade — Medjouls are typically sold and graded by size, and jumbo is at the top end of that scale.
Taste and texture
Medjoul dates are noticeably different from the smaller, drier date varieties (such as Deglet Noor) sometimes used in baking mixes. They're soft and meaty, with a sticky, almost fudge-like texture, and a deep amber-to-dark-brown colour. The flavour is rounded and caramel-like rather than sharply sweet, which is why they work well eaten on their own rather than only as a cooking ingredient.
How to use them
A few ways we'd suggest using them:
On their own: Medjouls are large enough to eat as a standalone snack, and their texture holds up well whether served at room temperature or lightly chilled.
Stuffed: the size and soft texture make them easy to pit and fill — whole almonds, a spoon of nut butter, or a piece of marzipan are common fillings, and they make a quick no-cook sweet for a cheese board.
In baking: because they're so moist, Medjouls blend easily into a paste (soaked briefly in warm water first if needed) and work as a natural sweetener base in flapjacks, energy balls or a date-and-walnut loaf.
Alongside other dried fruit: if you're putting together a fruit and nut board or a gift box, Medjouls pair well with our dried fruit range — try them next to dried figs or apricots for a contrast in texture.
Nutrition, simply
Per 100g, Medjoul dates contain approximately 277 kcal, 75g of carbohydrate (of which around 66g is naturally occurring sugar), 6.7g of fibre and 1.8g of protein. They're also a source of potassium and magnesium. As with any dried fruit, they're energy-dense for their weight because most of the water has been removed, so they're best thought of as a concentrated treat rather than an everyday snack eaten in large quantities — a couple of dates goes a long way.
Storing your dates
Kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry cupboard, Medjoul dates will stay in good condition for several weeks. If you've bought a larger pack, or want to keep them soft for longer, storing them in the fridge extends their life considerably — up to several months — without drying them out. Freezing also works well if you want to keep a bulk box on hand and only defrost what you need, a few at a time.
Try them yourself
Our Medjoul dates are available in an 800g pack for everyday snacking, or a 5kg box if you're stocking up for baking, gifting, or Ramadan preparations.