Description/Taste
In general, the Barhi date provides a varying degree of sweetness depending upon its ripeness level, ranging from fresh sugar cane to coconut and butterscotch. They are smaller and more spherical than other varieties and are often still attached to the vine when sold in their unripe, yellow stage. The yellow Barhi date has a golden matte finish and a crunchy apple-like texture with a slight sweetness and mild astringency similar to that of a hachiya persimmon. If left at room temperature, it will eventually turn a brownish color as it ripens, becoming soft and chewy with a thin crisp outer skin.
Seasons/Availability
Yellow Barhi dates are available in the summer and early fall.
Current Facts
The Barhi, or Barhee, date comes from the date palm botanically classified as Phoenix dactylifera, and is considered the sweetest and creamiest of its species. Due to its lower than average astringency, this date is unique in its edibility during all three stages of ripeness: yellow and semi-ripe (Khalal), amber brown and fully ripe (rutab) or dark brown, dried and wrinkled (tamr). It is usually eaten fresh and seldom in the final dried, wrinkled stage. A real delicacy, the Yellow Barhi date has an extremely short season and best used immediately.
Nutritional Value
Yellow Barhi dates are a rich source of fiber, iron, potassium, B-vitamins, flavonoids and antioxidants.
Applications
Yellow Barhi dates make an excellent crunchy sweet snack and are often simply eaten on their own. The pitted dates may be diced and added into fruit salads for interesting sweet crunch. When baked in desserts such as crumbles or cobblers, they tend to keep their texture better, and pair beautifully with apples and raisins. Complimentary flavors include nuts, chocolate, coffee, cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, coconut, orange, bananas, apricots, brandy, rum, cheese and bacon. Yellow Barhi dates are far more perishable than their fully ripe version and should be stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The name Barhi is derived from Arabic meaning “a hot wind”.
Geography/History
Date palms are native to the Middle East and North Africa where it is a common sight to see many varieties of dates harvested and sold at all stages of ripeness. Here in the United States, however, the Barhi date is the only such variety we see grown commercially and sold at the khalal stage. The Barhi palm was introduced to California in 1913 from Basra, Iraq. It was originally quite unpopular and not very widely distributed due to its fragility in the fully ripe stage.
