Date

Grown on palm trees, sweet and sticky fresh dates are a staple in North Africa and the Middle East. The fruits have a thin, slightly papery skin and a long, hard stone in the middle. Dates are high in sugar content. They can be eaten as a snack or slit and filled with cream cheese, marzipan or walnut halves and served as a petit fours. Their taste is like no other, and better fresh, however are often eaten dried. They can be used in savoury dishes such as tangines, fruity stuffings for roast meats such as lamb or pork.