Dates?

[Autumn]

Are all dates raw? I bought some Deglet noor dates last weekend and thought they were heavenly.

Anyone?

[Autumn]

C'mon fellow rawies - someone has to know the answer to this question for a poor, sweet, cherubic newbie like myself. All these views and no answers. Ya don't want me to cry now, do ya? :(

*throws kisses*

[misslinda]

Autumn,

as far as i know, they are and are naturally sweet. however, i question at times if sweetners of some sort are added while drying.

i fi get more info i'll let you know!


kisses back,
linda :p

[Andrew]

I buy my dates in bulk at the coop where I shop. Generally speaking, if there were additives to any food item, they would have to be mentioned SOMEWHERE, especially given all the food allergies people have these days. Dates are just naturally sweet. And one of my favorite things....pop an almond inside one and enjoy. It's like candy. Yum.

[Allison]

It's my understanding that Deglet Noors are not raw. I believe they have been steamed. If your dates were pitted, they are most likely steamed.

[SimplyRawesome]

Autumn,

I don't know the answer to your question, but I buy my dates at the healthfood store and they are pitted. The next time I buy them, I'll ask if they are raw.

[tglasco4]

I order organic medjool dates in bulk at my local health food store. They are raw (as far as I know) and not pitted. I have to take the pits out when I use them. They are way too sweet for me to eat more than one or two, but they are excellent for shakes and other raw recipes.

Peace.

[harmony]

My Harris Teeter grpcery store has organic majool dates for $3.99/lb. I am so excited about that!

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Costco also has 2 pound tubs of medjool dates for $6.99 a tub :D They are excellent- when I first went raw, I could eat a ton of these... but now, they are so sweet! I agree with the nut idea- I tried stuffing a pecan in side one of the medjools- ahhh much better than pecan pie!

Dates are the chocolate of raw for me :) They are my new bestest friend... my hug in the night... the shoulder I cry on... the.... okay that's enough :D

Love ya Autumn!
Melissa

[tracyinfo]

Andrew and feelingood mentioned stuffing a date with an almond, pecan, walnut, etcc... I include a mint leaf in with the nut. It's great.

Back to the thread, I always thought that whole dates were raw! I have heard a few things about the chopped date, that they could be dried at too high temps, to be considered raw, so they don't stick to each other as much.

-Tracy

[SimplyRawesome]

Andrew and feelingood mentioned stuffing a date with an almond, pecan, walnut, etcc... I include a mint leaf in with the nut. It's great.
-Tracy
Ohhhh, now THAT sounds scrumptious. I'll definitely have to try that one! Thanks Tracy.

[askcassyfirst]

I too enjoy dates! As far as I know, typically the whole ones are raw, although I have seen some companies add sugar and preservatives, and the chopped type is highly processed. The added ingredients should be listed

Feeling Good! I bought one of those tubs of dates at Costco too! Aren't they delicious! I love sticking a brazil nut inside...The longer I am raw, the sweeter they taste. But they are a delicious dessert treat. Even better than raisins.

Cassy.:)

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Hi Cassy and Tracy- I willtry both of your ideas, the mint leaf & the brazil nut- yummy! I haven't tried almonds either... I like using the nuts because it cuts the sweetness of the dates a bit...
:D
Melissa

[twinyoga]

I love dates! But I eat way too many of them. So I'm taking a break from buying them. I eat them like I would eat a bowl of m&m's. I can't enjoy just one!

But enjoy!
Debbie

[Autumn]

Thanks for all the replies!

I agree that they are like my new candy. I'm going to have to try popping a nut inside as well. Sounds YUM.

[RawTruth]

In the spring, I was in Death Valley and spent some time at a date farm there. They don't process their whole dates at all -- even the pitted ones. But, in researching it, I found that some of them may be dried at high temperatures and then reconsistuted (plumped up with steam).

I'm no expert, so here's a more definitive answer from John Kohler at http://www.living-foods.com --

Dates - Dates are generally sun dried, if good organic dates are purchased. Many "conventional" dates can be dried and then steamed to make them look "plump" and moist. The Date People and Flying Disc Ranch are my two favorite sources of dates.

[Monica]

The whole ones definately have a good chance of being raw, but I recently read that if you see white stuff, then they have been steamed. I guess steaming dates is rare, and the whole ones are usually raw. I bought freash dates once, and I let a couple sit on the counter a little too long, and lo and behold, they just turned into a "dried date" They didn't even go bad or anything :p