Dates are in hot demand

The fruit is an integral part of Ramzan, not just to break the fast but also to increase the bond between families. No wonder, date merchants can't stop smilingBangaloreans are being spoilt with dates galore during the holy month of Ramzan.Muslims across the world break their fast with dates and a glass of water, a tradition that comes down from the Prophet.In Saudi Arabia, dates go beyond the diet. They are also gifted commonly to increase the bond between people and communities. It's a concept that's followed here too and dates are, naturally, in great demand during this season.In Shivajinagar alone, there are around 15 vendors and retailers selling over 25 varieties of dry and wet dates. Prices start at Rs 36 per kg and go up to Rs 300 for the very rare Azua dates.Sayyad Bharkat, a retailer, says he sells more than 100kg a day during Ramzan it's only about 25 to 30kg at other times.Wholesale merchant Tyagaraj, who has a shop in City Market and deals with different kinds of dry and wet dates sourced from different parts of the world, sells more than 30 quintals during this time. Types of datesWhen it comes to varieties of dates, there's only one word to describe them: mindboggling. We've listed a few that are available in Bangalore:Azua, Kalmi, Ambar, Masket, Iran, Derth, Kurma, Kimiya, Taiba, Gulf, Medjoul, Domino, Kaja, Saudi, Tunisia, Lion, Thar, Al-Munavara, Madina, 9999, Seedless, Yajman, Kenyan, Sahara, Desert Gold. Why dates are good for you>>They are low in fat and protein but rich in sugars, mainly fructose and glucose.>>It is a rich source of energy 100 g can provide an average of 314 kcal.>>They have 10 minerals, the major ones being selenium, copper, potassium and magnesium. The consumption of 100g of dates can provide over 15 per cent of the recommended daily allowance of these minerals.>>The major vitamins in dates are Vitamins B-complex and C. They are also high in dietary fibre (8.0 g/100 g).>>Dates are a good source of antioxidants, mainly carotenoids and phenolics.>>Date seeds contain higher protein (5.1 g/100 g) and fat (9.0 g/100 g) compared to the flesh. They are also high in dietary fibre (73.1 g/100 g), phenolics (3,942 mg/100 g) and antioxidants (80,400 mol/100 g).