List of date cultivars

A large number of date cultivars and varieties emerged through history of its cultivation, but the exact number is difficult to assess. Hussain and El-Zeid[1] (1975) have reported 400 varieties, while Nixon[2] (1954) named around 250. Most of those are limited to a particular region, and only a few dozen have attained broader commercial importance. The most renowned cultivars worldwide include Deglet Noor, originally of Algeria; Zahidi and Hallawi of Iraq; Medjool of Morocco; Mazafati of Iran.[3]

Most of the information in the following list is from Date Palm Genetic Resources and Utilization by Al-Khayri et al. (2015).[4][5]

List

Name	Country	Native name	Notes	Image
Abdel Rahman	Yemen
Abel	Libya
Abid Raḥim, Abidraḥim	Sudan	Arabic: عبد رحيم	In Nigeria, it is called Dabino.
Abyadh (Bathri, seeded)	Yemen
Ademou	Morocco
Aghous (Aguis)	Niger
Aglany	Egypt
Aguelid	Morocco
Ahardane	Morocco
Ahmar Danca	Mauritania
Ahmar Dli	Mauritania
Aïssa-Iyoub	Morocco
Ajwa	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: العجوة
Akanirom	Niger
Al Sahagi	Yemen
Al-Falha	Mauritania
Alfat Al-Bahoua	Mauritania
Alfat Foum Agadir	Mauritania
Al-Hanaouia	Mauritania
Alig	Tunisia	Arabic: العليقي
Almadeyna	Niger
Almehtari	Iran
Amari, Ameri	Bahrain; Israel	Arabic: عماري
Amchekhssi	Mauritania
Amhat	Egypt
Amir Hajj or Amer Hajj	Iraq		Soft with a thin skin and thick flesh, sometimes called "the visitor's date" because it is a delicacy served to guests.
Ammari, Ammary, Amry	Tunisia; Egypt	Arabic: عماري
Anagow	Chad	Arabic: أنقو
Anbara, Anbarah	Saudi Arabia; Kuwait	Arabic: عنبرة
Angou	Tunisia	Arabic: أنقو
Ardousow	Chad
Aribo	Chad
Arichti, Arichty, Rochty	Tunisia	Arabic: عرشتي
Arsandow	Chad
Asabia el Aroos	Yemen
Asada	Sudan
Aṣeel	Pakistan	Urdu: أصيل	Dates from Pakistan that are pitted and diced
Ashhal	Bahrain
Ashrasi	Syria	Arabic: اشرسي
Aswad	Qatar
Atratinna	Niger
Awaidi	Kuwait
Azat	Qatar
Azigzao	Morocco
Aziza Bouzid	Morocco
Azzani	Yemen
Baghaberha	Niger
Bagounia	Niger
Bamour	Libya
Banat - Alabade	Bahrain
Banat - Alssyid	Bahrain
Baqal	Yemen
Barakawi	Sudan	Arabic: بركاوي
Barbosa	Yemen
Barḥi, Barḥee	Bahrain; India; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Kuwait; Palestine; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Djibouti; Sudan	Arabic: برحي	Nearly spherical, light amber to dark brown when ripe; soft, with thick flesh and rich flavour. One of the few varieties that are good in the khalal stage when they are yellow (like a fresh grape, as opposed to dry, like a raisin).
Barni	Oman	Arabic: برني
Barni Madinah	Saudi Arabia
Bartamoda, Barttamoda	Egypt; Sudan
Basbrik	Mauritania
Bashbak	Qatar
Bayaḍ	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: بياض
Baydir	Algeria		[6]
Begum Jangi	Pakistan
Beiḍ	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: بيض
Bejjou or bejou	Tunisia	Arabic: الباجو
Beladi	Djibouti
Belhazit	Morocco
Bent-Eisha	Egypt
Bent Qbala	Algeria
Berni	Libya	Arabic: برني
Berz	Qatar
Bestian	Libya
Biḍ Ḥamam	Tunisia	Arabic: بيض حمام
Bin Saif	Qatar
Biraira, Bireir	Sudan	Arabic: برير
Birbin	Syria	Arabic: بربن
Bisr Ḥelou	Tunisia	Arabic: بسر حلو
Bollior	Spain
Bornow	Chad
Boucerdoune	Morocco
Boufaggouss, Boufegous (Moussa)	Tunisia; Morocco
Bouhattam	Tunisia
Bouijjou	Morocco
Bouittob	Morocco
Boujira	Mauritania
Boukhanni	Morocco
Bourar	Morocco
Bouskri	Morocco
Bouslikhene	Morocco
Bousthami	Morocco		Black (kahla) and white varieties
Boutemda	Morocco
Bouzeggar	Morocco
Braim, Breim	Kuwait; Iran
Brismi	Bahrain
Bu Narenjah	Oman
Buchairah	Bahrain
Buraimi	Saudi Arabia
Candíos Puntiagudos	Spain
Candits, Cándidos, Maduros	Spain
Cheikh Mhammed (Sheikh Mohammed)	Algeria
Choddakh	Tunisia	Arabic: شداخ
Confitera	Spain
Dabbas	United Arab Emirates
Dagh	Pakistan
Datça	Turkey
Dan Haoussa	Niger
Daurat, Dorado	Spain
Dayri	Iran; Iraq; Israel	Arabic: ديري	The "Monastery" date, these are long, slender, nearly black, and soft.
De Adobo	Spain
De Berberia	Spain
De Espiga	Spain
De Rambla	Spain
De Sol	Spain
Dedhi	Pakistan
Degla Beida	Algeria
Degla Bidha	Tunisia
Deglet Noor	Algeria; Chile; Peru; Tunisia; United States; Israel; Palestine; Saudi Arabia; Syria	Arabic: دقلة نور
Dehdar Moradi	Iran
Dhakki	Pakistan
Dibinojeh naoura	Cameroon
Dilo	Niger
Dogordow	Chad
Empress	Indio, California		Developed by the DaVall family from a seedling of Thoory. It is large, and is softer and sweeter than Thoory. It generally has a light tan top half and brown bottom half.
Faqur	Chad
Farḍ, Faraḍ	Oman; Bahrain; Somalia	Arabic: فرض	Deep dark brown, tender skin, sweet flavor, small seed. Keeps well when well packed.
Fasli	Pakistan
Fermla	Tunisia	Arabic: فرملة
Fezzani	Tunisia	Arabic: فزاني
Fṭimi or Alligue	Tunisia	Arabic: فطيمي	Grown in inland oases of Tunisia.
Gabiley	Yemen	Arabic: الجبيلي
Gajjar	Pakistan
Gameye or Ngamaya	Niger
Gargoda	Egypt; Sudan
Gharrah	Bahrain
Ghars	Algeria	Arabic: غرس
Gharss Souf (Gharss Meṭṭig)	Tunisia	Arabic: غرس سوف or غرس مطيقي
Ghudairey	Yemen
Ghur	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: الغر
Gish Rabi	Syria
Goknah	Pakistan
Gonda, Gounda, Goundi	Tunisia	Arabic: قندة
Gondaila	Egypt; Sudan
Goria Fari	Niger
Goria Ja	Niger
Goṣbi, Gouṣbi	Tunisia	Arabic: قصبي
Gros, Cavirots, Redondos	Spain
Guewass	Niger
Gulistan	Pakistan
Gzaz	Yemen
Hadib	Niger
Hafs	Morocco
Haji Mohammadi	Iran
Hajri	Yemen
Ḥalawi, Ḥalawy	India; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Palestine	Arabic: حلاوي	Soft, and extremely sweet, small to medium in size.
Halima	Libya		Halima is a woman's name.
Hallaw/Taroot	Bahrain
Hallini	Pakistan; Qatar
Ḥalwa	Algeria	Arabic: الحلوة
Ḥamra, Ḥamrah, Ḥamria	Tunisia; Yemen; Libya	Arabic: الحمراء
Handhal	Oman
Haoua	Morocco
Harissa	Djibouti
Hatimi	Bahrain	Arabic: حاتمي
Hayany	Egypt; Israel; Palestine		Hayani is a man's name – these dates are dark-red to nearly black and soft.
Hilali	Bahrain; Kuwait; Qatar; Saudi Arabia	Arabic: هلالي
Hillawi	Pakistan
Hissa	Tunisia	Arabic: هيسة	File:HissaDates.JPG
Hitmi	Qatar
Hloua	Tunisia	Arabic: الحلوة
Ḥorra	Tunisia	Arabic: حرة
Ḥulwa	Saudi Arabia, Iraq	Arabic: الحلوة
Ḥumri	Bahrain	Arabic: الحميرة
Hussaini	Pakistan
Iklane	Morocco
Ilfodone	Niger
Imri	Djibouti
Indi	Sri Lanka	Sinhala: ඉඳ
Jabiri, Jabri	Bahrain; Oman; Qatar
Jawan Sour	Pakistan
Jihel	Morocco
Jouzi	Kuwait
Judean date palm	Israel	Arabic: نخل يهودا	An ancient cultivar which, in 2005, was revived from a 2000-year-old seed. This cultivar is originally from the west coast of the Dead Sea.
Kaanihery	Niger
Kabkab	Iran; Syria	Arabic: کبکاب
Karbaline	Pakistan
Karwan	Pakistan
Kasho Wari	Pakistan
Kathari	Libya
Kehraba	Pakistan
Kentichi	Algeria	Arabic: كنتيشي
Khaḍrawi, Khaḍrawy	Djibouti; India; Iraq; Israel; Palestine; Syria	Arabic: خضراوي	The name is Arabic for 'green'; it is a cultivar favoured by many Arabs. It is a soft, very dark date.
Khalaṣ	Djibouti; Sudan; Bahrain; India; Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria	Arabic: خلاص	One of the major palm cultivars in Saudi Arabia. Its fruit is called Khlaṣ (خلاص). Notably produced in Hofuf (Al-Ahsa) and Qatif in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia (ash-Sharqīyah).
Kharbalian	Pakistan
Khaṣab	Kuwait; Oman	Arabic: الخصاب
Kisba, Kasbat - Asfoor	Djibouti; Bahrain	Arabic: كسبة
Khaṣouee	Iran	Arabic: خاصوئی
Khastawi	Iraq; Syria	Arabic: خستاوي	The leading soft date in Iraq; it is syrupy and small in size, prized for dessert.
Khawaja	Bahrain
Khenaizi, Khunaizi, Khuneizi, Khinaizy, Khineze	Saudi Arabia; Bahrain; Oman; India; Sudan; Syria; United Arab Emirates	Arabic: الخنيزي
Khiḍri	Palestine	Arabic: خضري
Khoḍry	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: خضري
Khyarah	Kuwait	Arabic: خياره
Kinta, Kenta	Tunisia	Arabic: كنتة
Koîdi bichanga	Chad
Koîdi dellémadow	Chad
Koîdow	Chad
Kougoudou	Chad
Kouhi	Chad
Koukouma	Niger
Kourdow	Chad
Krouskrous	Niger
Kulma	Sudan
Kupro	Pakistan
Kustawy	Palestine	Arabic: خستاوي
Lagou	Tunisia	Arabic: اللاقو
Lakhdira	Mauritania
Lamdina	Mauritania
Largos	Spain
Lemsi	Tunisia
Léon	Spain
Libyan Deglet	Libya
Litima	Algeria
Lohandjé	Chad
Lolo, Lolwi, Lulu	Syria; Kuwait; United Arab Emirates
Louted	Mauritania
Mabroom (Barni Al Ola)	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: مبروم	A large, elongated date
Mabsli	Oman
Madina	Sudan
Madini	Yemen
Madloki	Oman
Mahboula	Mauritania
Mah-Lbaïd	Morocco
Maiwa	Niger
Maktoom, Maktoomi, Maktoumi	Syria; Kuwait; Saudi Arabia	Arabic: مكتومي	Large, red-brown, thick-skinned, soft, medium-sweet date.
Malkaby	Egypt
Malṭi	Tunisia	Arabic: مالطي
Manakbir			A large fruit that ripens early.
Marchiano	Chad
Marraner	Spain
Masli, Masili	Oman; Somalia
Maazwati	Pakistan
Méboul	Chad
Mech Degla	Algeria
Medjool (Mujhoolah)	Djibouti; Morocco; Chile; Peru; United States; India; Israel; Kuwait; Palestine; Saudi Arabia; Syria	Arabic: المجهول	A large, sweet and succulent date.
Méguirti	Chad
Mékléya	Chad
Mékoîdi	Chad
Mekt	Morocco
Meneifi	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: منيفي
Merziban	Bahrain	Arabic: المرزبان
Mestali	Morocco
Météréli	Chad
Métoukouli	Chad
Mgmaget Ayuob	Hun, Libya
Mijraf	Yemen
Mishriq, Mishrig	Sudan	Arabic: مشرق, meaning 'east'	Wad Khateeb and Wad Laggai varieties in Sudan
Miskani	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: مسكاني
Momeg	Yemen
Mordaseng	Iran
Moscatel	Spain
Mourudow	Chad
Mozafati, Mazafati, Muzawati	Iran; Pakistan	Persian: مضافتی, meaning 'suburban' or 'peripheral'	Dark, fleshy and sweet date of medium size with a relatively high moisture content and is suited for fresh consumption, i.e. not dried. At a temperature of −5 °C (23 °F) it can be kept for up to 2 years.
Mriziga	Mauritania
Mubashir	Bahrain
Mudallal	Bahrain
Muwaji	Bahrain
Nabtat Ali	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: نبتة علي
Nabtat Saif	Bahrain; Saudi Arabia; Syria	Arabic: نبتة سيف
Nabtat Sulṭan	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: نبتة سلطان
Nabut Sultan	Djibouti
Naghal	Oman
Najda	Morocco
Nebut Seif	Kuwait; Qatar	Arabic: نبوت سيف
Nemahan	Somalia
Niqal	Qatar
Noyet Meka	Libya
Omglaib	Libya
Oraiby	Egypt
Otakin	Pakistan
Oum Arich	Mauritania
Oum-N’hal	Morocco
Oumo-Assala	Djibouti
Outoukdime	Morocco
Pashpag	Pakistan
Piarom	Iran		A large, thin-skinned, black-brown semi-dry date.
Qanṭar	Kuwait	Arabic: قنطار
Qash	Oman
Qashmak	Qatar
Qaṭarah	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: قطاره
Rabbi, Rabai	Iran; Pakistan	Persian: ربی
Rabia	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: ربيعة
Ras Lahmer, Ras Ltmar	Morocco
Roghni	Pakistan
Rojo	Spain
Roṭab	Iran, Iraq	Arabic: رطب	Dark and soft.
Ruthana, Rotana	Saudi Arabia; Qatar	Arabic: روثانة
Ruzeiz, Rzaiz, Rzizi	Saudi Arabia; Bahrain; Djibouti	Arabic: الرزيز
Sabaka	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: سباكة
Ṣabo	Bahrain	Arabic: الصبو
Ṣafawi	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: صفاوي	Mainly grown in the Al-Madina region. Soft, semi-dried date variety; distinctive deep black colour, length and medium size. Share similarities with Ajwa dates such as taste.
Ṣafrir	Israel	Hebrew: צפריר	Red colored sweet dates that can be eaten immediately after being harvested from the tree
Sahcari	Somalia
Saiedi, Saidi	Libya		Soft, very sweet, these are popular in Libya.
Saila	Libya		Soft, very sweet, these are popular in Libya.
Saïrlayalate	Morocco
Sakkoty	Egypt
Salani	Oman
Salmadina	Mauritania
Samany	Egypt
Samaran	Kuwait
Sari	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: سري
Sayer	Iran; Iraq	Arabic for 'common'	Dark orange-brown, of medium size, soft and syrupy.
Seedling	Sudan
Ṣefri, Ṣufry	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: صفري
Ṣegae	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: صقعي
Sellaj	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: سلّج
Selmi	Bahrain
Serfateh	Yemen
Setrawi	Bahrain
Sewi	India
Shabibi	Bahrain
Shahabi	Syria
Shahal, Shahl	Saudi Arabia; Oman	Arabic: شهل
Shahani	Iran	Arabic: شاهانی
Shambari	Bahrain
Shamiya	Egypt
Shamran	India
Shebebi	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: الشبيبي
Sheeri	Djibouti
Shaishi, Shishi	Saudi Arabia; Bahrain; Kuwait; Qatar	Arabic: الشيشي
Sils	Bahrain
Siwy	Egypt
Sokotri	Yemen
Soukani	Mauritania
Sukkari, Suckari, Sokeri	Saudi Arabia; Kuwait; Libya	Arabic: سكري, meaning 'sugar' or 'sweet one'	Yellow skinned; faintly resilient^[clarification needed] and extremely sweet, often referred to as 'royal dates'. It is arguably the most expensive and premium variety.[7]
Sullaj	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: سلج
Suqadari	Somalia
Tadmainte	Morocco
Tafezwin	Algeria
Taghayat	Niger
Tagiat	Libya
Takarmust, Takermest	Algeria; Tunisia
Talharma	Niger
Talis	Libya
Talittat	Niger
Tameg	Libya
Tamezwert	Algeria
Tanghal	Niger
Tanjoob	Bahrain
Tantbucht	Algeria
Taqerbucht	Algeria
Tarahim	Qatar
Tawragh	Niger
Ṭayyar, Ṭayer	Saudi Arabia; Bahrain	Arabic: الطيار
Tenat	Spain
Tendre Dolz	Spain
Tezerzayet, Touzerzayet	Tunisia	Arabic: توزرزايت	Kahla and Safra varieties
Thoory (Thuri)	Algeria		Popular in Algeria, this dry date is brown-red when cured with a bluish bloom and very wrinkled skin. Its flesh is sometimes hard and brittle but the flavour described as sweet and nutty.
Tha'al (Manasif)	Yemen
Tidirchi or Toudourchi	Niger
Tiernos, Tendre	Spain
Tifred	Mauritania
Tiguedert	Mauritania
Tijeb	Mauritania
Tilmoiran or Cliyarom	Niger
Timjuhart	Algeria
Tinterguel	Mauritania
Tinwazid	Mauritania
Tirtidou	Chad
Tissibi	Algeria
Tota	Pakistan
Touzouwzaw	Niger
Trasferit	Libya
Tronja	Tunisia	Arabic: ترنجة
Tubaig	Yemen
Tunisi (Deglet Noor)	Sudan
Um Raḥeem, Um Raḥim	Saudi Arabia; Bahrain	Arabic: أم رحيم
Um Sella	Oman
Um Al-Dehn	Kuwait
Um Al-Jwary	Libya
Um Al-Khashab	Saudi Arabia		Brilliant red skin; bittersweet, hard white flesh
Verdal	Spain
Wallo	Chad
Wannana	Saudi Arabia	Arabic: ونانة
Ward	Qatar
Wardanga	Chad
Waserdow	Chad
Zabad	Oman
Zaghloul	Egypt; India; Syria	Arabic: زغلول	Dark red skin, long, and very crunchy when fresh (when they are typically served); extremely sweet, with sugar content creating a sense of desiccation in the mouth when eaten. This variety is essentially exclusive to Egypt, where it is subject to an element of nationalist sentiment on account of sharing a name with national hero Saad Zaghloul.
Zahidi	Djibouti; Chile; Peru; India; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Palestine; Syria	Arabic: الزهدي; Persian: زاهدی	Medium-sized, cylindrical, light golden-brown semi-dry dates are very sugary, and sold as soft, medium-hard and hard. Arabic for 'ascetic'.
Zalao	Chad
Zebur	Libya
Zurghi (Makkawy)	Yemen

See also

• Date cultivation in Dar al-Manasir#Date cultivars

References

1. Hussain, Fazal; El-Zeid, A (1975). "Studies on physical and chemical characteristics of date varieties of Saudi Arabia". Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Saudi Arabia. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
2. Nixon, R.W. (1954). "Date culture in Saudi Arabia". Ann. Date Growers' Instit. (31): 15–20.
3. Sidhu, Jiwan S. (28 February 2008). "22. Date Fruits Production and Processing". In Hui, Y. H.; Barta, József; Cano, M. Pilar (eds.). Handbook of Fruits and Fruit Processing. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 391–396. ISBN 978-0-470-27648-8.
4. Al-Khayri, Jameel M.; Jain, Shri Mohan; Johnson, Dennis V., eds. (2015). Date Palm Genetic Resources and Utilization. Vol. 1. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9694-1. ISBN 978-94-017-9693-4. S2CID 40086887.
5. Al-Khayri, Jameel M.; Jain, Shri Mohan; Johnson, Dennis V., eds. (2015). Date Palm Genetic Resources and Utilization. Vol. 2. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9707-8. ISBN 978-94-017-9706-1. S2CID 41024508.
6. Rhouma, Abdelmajid; Nasr, Noureddine; Zirari, Abdelmalek; Belguedj, Malek (2006). Jarvis, Devra Ivy (ed.). Indigenous knowledge in management of abiotic stress: Date palm genetic resources diversity in the oases of Maghreb region. Enhancing the Use of Crop Genetic Diversity to Manage Abiotic Stress in Agricultural Production Systems (23-27 May 2005). Budapest, Hungary: Bioversity International. pp. 57–. ISBN 978-92-9043-722-2.
7. "Popular date palm fruit types: Sukkary dates". Fodakty. Retrieved 2018-10-19.

Further reading

• Rhouma, Abdelmajid. Le Palmier Dattier en Tunisie: I. Le patrimoine génétique - Volume 2 (in French). Bioversity International. ISBN 978-92-9043-677-5. – extensive reference about date cultivars of Tunisia