Albanians are crazy about dates, with or without seeds. Everybody is of the opinion that dates have been part of our tradition for centuries. Trees of these dates are found in every alley, ground floor, neighborhood, orchard or even garden.
The first seed dates have just come to market at a price of 170-200 ALL per kg. The dates are cultivated throughout Albania, especially in Berat, Permet, Elbasan, Pogradec, but also in Lezha, Tirana and elsewhere. The botanical name of the dates is Diospyros which translates to "Fruit of the Gods" and this name fits well. This fruit is the perfect combination of a full-bodied and juicy fruit. It's sweet, but not overwhelming which means your palate will enjoy the intriguing taste of grime. Frozen, cold, fresh, whatever varieties of dates you choose, your wallet will not drain significantly.
Persimmon come in very varied varieties. They are yellow to brown in color. They have round shapes and variants, but never the same.
The main types of dates are the weeds and the seedlings. The latter can be enjoyed when they are crunchy like apples, but also soft like peaches. However if you are impatient and choose to try the weeds when they are strong, then you will have a strong, dry sensation in your mouth. When these dates are fully ripe, then their skin turns into a literal container for a pulp so good and sweet that it resembles a thick marmalade. Only then will you be able to understand what it means to eat the "Fruit of the Gods". There are people who prefer to eat these fresh dates. Others prefer to keep them in the fridge all year long.
The values of the dates
But besides their fantastic taste, dates bear tremendous health value. Persimmon is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They contain bulk water (about 80%) but also fiber, vitamins (A, C) and mineral salts, such as potassium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium and sodium. Thanks to the content of these substances, persimmons energize the body, protect the immune system, have the ability to improve digestion and fight fatigue. Persimmon are also excellent against stress, anemia or lack of appetite.
Albanian variety
In Albania, we can find from some kind of seeds and those without seeds. Luckily it is very easy to make the difference between the two. Seedling variety is like a small grain on top of it. The other has the form of a tomato with a small hole in the bottom. Consumers in the peasant markets may even find super-light dates, so-called chocolate dates, so called because of the dark color of the date pulp. If not too dark, the brown spots on the walnut pulp are always the right sign of how good the date palate is. Those who do not know the date, see these brown spots as a sign of fruit decay. Those who know him well know the opposite. Moreover, consumers also boast about the number of seeds in brown stained dates, because the more seeds, the more delicious it is. Fresh, well-roasted dates are consumed directly, but their distinctive taste makes them available for other culinary aspects, ranging from salads to fruit juices. Walnuts that are gelatinous in nature are also served with syrup in the form of syrup.
Did you know that:
A brewery in the United States is reviving the recipe for centuries-old beer that has been gone for over 300 years. This recipe belongs to those times when people did not drink water to cool. This was due to the impurities and drank beer instead of that produced by the fermentation of dates. Modern-day beer contains only 3% alcohol so many people can consume it at will without having to scroll around.
Source: AgroWeb
