🌴 Ajwa dates
Ajwa is a variety of date grown around Madinah in Saudi Arabia. The fruit is small, round and almost black, with soft, slightly dry flesh and a fine wrinkled skin. Its sweetness is gentle rather than syrupy, with notes of prune and caramel. Ajwa dates are eaten on their own, offered to guests with Arabic coffee, and are a favourite way to break the fast in Ramadan.
Diets
Allergens
None of the 14 major allergens in a typical recipe.
What it is made of
Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 ajwa dates
- 500 ml water
- 2 tbsp lightly roasted Arabic coffee, ground
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- A pinch of saffron (optional)
Method
- Bring the water to the boil, add the coffee and simmer gently for 8–10 minutes.
- Take off the heat, stir in the cardamom and saffron and let the grounds settle for 2 minutes.
- Arrange the dates on a small plate and pour the coffee into small cups, leaving the grounds behind.
- Serve 3–4 dates per person with the coffee, as is customary when welcoming guests or breaking a fast.
How to make it lighter
- Dates are sweet and energy-dense: count them individually — a serving of 3 ajwa dates is about 30 g.
- Pair them with water or unsweetened Arabic coffee rather than sweet drinks.
- Eat them slowly as a planned snack instead of picking from a bowl, which makes portions easy to lose track of.
History
Dates have been cultivated in Arabia for thousands of years, and the Madinah area is especially known for its date palms. Ajwa holds a special place in Muslim tradition because of hadiths that mention it, which is why pilgrims to Madinah often take boxes of ajwa home. Today it is one of the most prized and expensive date varieties in the Gulf.
Count it in one photo
Point your camera at the table — Me Nutrition recognises Ajwa dates and every other dish, with calories and macros for each. Ate only half? Slide it.
Download on the App StoreSimilar dishes
Values are estimates per 100 g for a typical recipe; home and restaurant versions vary. Diets and allergens are worked out from the ingredients of a typical recipe — always check with whoever cooked the dish. Not medical advice. Nutrition data: Me Nutrition dish database v13. How we count →