Dates -- a seasonal delight during the fasting month<\/p>\n
Deni Putri, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
During Ramadhan, dates are much in demand by Muslims as a
\nspecial snack for breaking the fast. Locally known as korma,
\ndates are widely available in traditional markets or
\nsupermarkets.<\/p>\n
Muslims believe that dates were consumed by Prophet Muhammad
\nwhen breaking the fast. Dates help Muslims -- who fast for almost
\n14 hours a day for a whole month -- regain energy because the
\nfruit contains calories and is high in fiber.<\/p>\n
Dates are most often imported from the Middle East. The shape
\nof the fruit and its price varies. People have to check the
\nquality and taste when buying dates.<\/p>\n
Korma sold at some traditional markets are labeled based on
\ntheir origin. There are korma Tunisia (Tunisian dates), korma
\nMesir (Egyptian dates), korma Madinah (Medina dates) and korma
\nIrak (Iraqi dates).<\/p>\n
Some vendors at Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta sell
\ntheir dates based on the fruit's characteristics, such as korma
\nMadinah Super (super Medina dates), korma kering (dried dates),
\nand korma basah (sticky dates).<\/p>\n
Tunisian dates are usually thin and pale chocolate in color,
\nhave long stones, soft flesh and thick skins. They are not sticky
\nand are often called korma anggur (grape dates). The oval-shaped
\ndates are usually sold in packets with the fruit's stalks still
\nattached.<\/p>\n
Egyptian dates are dark chocolate in color, very soft, with
\nthick flesh. Iraqi dates are thin, light chocolate in color, with
\na chewy flesh. Egyptian dates are larger than Iraqi dates. Both
\nhave thick skins, big stones and sticky flesh.<\/p>\n
Dates imported from Medina, Saudi Arabia, have a long shape,
\nslender stones, thick skins, chewy flesh and are dark chocolate
\nin color.<\/p>\n
Besides these well-known dates from the Middle East, many may
\nnot be aware that some supermarkets in the capital also sell
\ndates imported from China, which are not so readily available at
\ntraditional markets.<\/p>\n
Imported from Hebei, China, these dates taste delicious and
\nhave a dark red color, small stones, thin skins, with thick and
\nsoft flesh. Many people are not yet familiar with these small
\ndates.<\/p>\n
Most dates taste sweet, just like honey. But the Tunisian
\nvariety, as well as the red dates, are less sweet, when compared
\nto the others.<\/p>\n
Despite being consumed as fruit, dates can also be used in
\ncakes, cookies and kolak (fruit stewed in coconut milk and brown
\nsugar).<\/p>\n
At Tanah Abang traditional market, the imported dates are sold
\nat various prices. Some date vendors sell the fruit for between
\nRp 20,000 (US$1.9) and Rp 25,000 per kilogram. Others sell
\nEgyptian dates for between Rp 8,500 and Rp 9,000 per kilogram.
\nMedina dates cost Rp 11,000 per kilogram and Iraqi dates are
\npriced at Rp 5,000 per kilogram. Tunisian dates are more
\nexpensive at Rp 22,000 per kilogram.<\/p>\n
At a supermarket in Taman Anggrek Mall, West Jakarta, red
\ndates sell at Rp 6,500 per small box (200 grams) and Rp 12,500
\n(400 grams) for a larger box. Tunisian dates cost Rp 49,800 per
\nbox (one kilogram).<\/p>\n
A date vendor, Mama Aldi, at Tanah Abang market said most of
\nhis customers preferred Egyptian dates because the flesh was
\ntender and they were not too expensive.<\/p>\n
The vendor, who sells 300 kilograms of dates per day during
\nRamadhan, said Tunisian dates would soon be sold out.<\/p>\n
Another seller, who claimed that her customers included Hotel
\nSantika and the radio station, Sonora, said that the price of
\ndates would rocket up to Rp 20,000 per kilogram after Idul Fitri
\nor Lebaran, but the price would go down to Rp 5,000 per kilogram
\nduring Lebaran.<\/p>\n
One last word of warning. If you plan to buy packaged dates
\neither in cartons or plastic boxes, don't forget to check the
\nexpiry date. And, if you prefer to buy unwrapped korma, look
\ncarefully at the color of the skin and flesh before making your
\npurchase.<\/p>",
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