Dates: The stable food of Ramadan

Kuwait Times celebrates Ramadan in Kuwait with 30 days of the Icons of Ramadan. We highlight our favorite activities, events, symbols and foods that are popular during this holy month, along with Kuwait’s Ramadan culture, history and traditions.

Dates are the symbol of resiliency and steadfastness, and form the first bite of food after a whole day of fasting during Ramadan. Dates have been a staple food in the Middle East for thousands of years. It is the only fruit recommended by doctors to be taken for breaking the fast because it is proven to very effective with a lot of nutritional value for an empty stomach.

In Kuwait, every meal in Ramadan is served with dates. Dates can be purchased from Souq Mubarakiya and many other places at a very reasonable price. Dates can be grown anywhere, even in the harshest weather conditions. They are usually grown in farms, but in Kuwait date palms can be seen in the streets, gardens and homes of Kuwaitis, which makes the whole country a virtual palm tree plantation.

Date or date palm is cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. Dates contain about 75 percent sugar when dried. The origins of the date tree are unknown, but it is mentioned in several holy books of major religions. Date trees typically reach about 21-23 m in height, growing singly or forming a clump with several stems from a single root system. When ready, the fruit is usually bright yellow or bright red depending on variety. The trees are also a favorite nesting place for native birds in Kuwait.

Email us at local@kuwaittimes.com with your favorite symbols of Ramadan and Ramadan photos.