A large number of date cultivars and varieties emerged through history of its cultivation, but the exact number is difficult to assess. Hussain and El-Zeid (1975) have reported 400 varieties, while Nixon (1954) named around 250. Most of those are limited to a particular region, and only a few dozen have attained broader commercial importance. The most renowned cultivars worldwide include Deglet Noor, originally of Algeria; Zahidi and Hallawi of Iraq; Medjool of Morocco; Mazafati of Iran.
Most of the information in the following list is from Date Palm Genetic Resources and Utilization by Al-Khayri et al. (2015).
List NameCountryNative nameNotesImageAbdel RahmanYemenAbelLibyaAbid Raḥim, AbidraḥimSudanIn Nigeria, it is called Dabino.Abyadh (Bathri, seeded)YemenAdemouMoroccoAghous (Aguis)NigerAglanyEgyptAguelidMoroccoAhardaneMoroccoAhmar DancaMauritaniaAhmar DliMauritaniaAïssa-IyoubMoroccoAjwaSaudi ArabiaArabic: AkaniromNigerAl SahagiYemenAl-FalhaMauritaniaAlfat Al-BahouaMauritaniaAlfat Foum AgadirMauritaniaAl-HanaouiaMauritaniaAligTunisiaArabic: AlmadeynaNigerAlmehtariIranAmari, AmeriBahrain; IsraelArabic: AmchekhssiMauritaniaAmhatEgyptAmir Hajj or Amer HajjIraqSoft with a thin skin and thick flesh, sometimes called "the visitor's date" because it is a delicacy served to guests.Ammari, Ammary, AmryTunisia; EgyptArabic: AnagowChadArabic: Anbara, AnbarahSaudi Arabia; KuwaitArabic: AngouTunisiaArabic: ArdousowChadAriboChadArichti, Arichty, RochtyTunisiaArabic: ArsandowChadAsabia el AroosYemenAsadaSudanAṣeelPakistanDates from Pakistan that are pitted and dicedAshhalBahrainAshrasiSyriaArabic: AswadQatarAtratinnaNigerAwaidiKuwaitAzatQatarAzigzaoMoroccoAziza BouzidMoroccoAzzaniYemenBaghaberhaNigerBagouniaNigerBamourLibyaBanat - AlabadeBahrainBanat - AlssyidBahrainBaqalYemenBarakawiSudanArabic: BarbosaYemenBarḥi, BarḥeeBahrain; India; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Kuwait; Palestine; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Djibouti; SudanArabic: Nearly spherical, light amber to dark brown when ripe; soft, with thick flesh and rich flavour. One of the few varieties that are good in the khalal stage when they are yellow (like a fresh grape, as opposed to dry, like a raisin).BarniOmanArabic: Barni MadinahSaudi ArabiaBartamoda, BarttamodaEgypt; SudanBasbrikMauritaniaBashbakQatarBayaḍSaudi ArabiaArabic: BaydirAlgeriaBegum JangiPakistanBeiḍSaudi ArabiaArabic: Bejjou or bejouTunisiaArabic: BeladiDjiboutiBelhazitMoroccoBent-EishaEgyptBent QbalaAlgeriaBerniLibyaArabic: BerzQatarBestianLibyaBiḍ ḤamamTunisiaArabic: Bin SaifQatarBiraira, BireirSudanArabic: BirbinSyriaArabic: Bisr ḤelouTunisiaArabic: BolliorSpainBornowChadBoucerdouneMoroccoBoufaggouss, Boufegous (Moussa)Tunisia; MoroccoBouhattamTunisiaBouijjouMoroccoBouittobMoroccoBoujiraMauritaniaBoukhanniMoroccoBourarMoroccoBouskriMoroccoBouslikheneMoroccoBousthamiMoroccoBlack (kahla) and white varietiesBoutemdaMoroccoBouzeggarMoroccoBraim, BreimKuwait; IranBrismiBahrainBu NarenjahOmanBuchairahBahrainBuraimiSaudi ArabiaCandíos PuntiagudosSpainCandits, Cándidos, MadurosSpainCheikh Mhammed (Sheikh Mohammed)AlgeriaChoddakhTunisiaArabic: ConfiteraSpainDabbasUnited Arab EmiratesDaghPakistanDatçaTurkeyDan HaoussaNigerDaurat, DoradoSpainDayriIran; Iraq; IsraelArabic: The "Monastery" date, these are long, slender, nearly black, and soft.De AdoboSpainDe BerberiaSpainDe EspigaSpainDe RamblaSpainDe SolSpainDedhiPakistanDegla BeidaAlgeriaDegla BidhaTunisiaDeglet NoorAlgeria; Chile; Peru; Tunisia; United States; Israel; Palestine; Saudi Arabia; SyriaArabic: Dehdar MoradiIranDhakkiPakistanDibinojeh naouraCameroonDiloNigerDogordowChadEmpressIndio, CaliforniaDeveloped by the DaVall family from a seedling of Thoory. It is large, and is softer and sweeter than Thoory. It generally has a light tan top half and brown bottom half.FaqurChadFarḍ, FaraḍOman; Bahrain; SomaliaArabic: Deep dark brown, tender skin, sweet flavor, small seed. Keeps well when well packed.FasliPakistanFermlaTunisiaArabic: FezzaniTunisiaArabic: Fṭimi or AlligueTunisiaArabic: Grown in inland oases of Tunisia.GabileyYemenArabic: GajjarPakistanGameye or NgamayaNigerGargodaEgypt; SudanGharrahBahrainGharsAlgeriaArabic: Gharss Souf (Gharss Meṭṭig)TunisiaArabic: or GhudaireyYemenGhurSaudi ArabiaArabic: Gish RabiSyriaGoknahPakistanGonda, Gounda, GoundiTunisiaArabic: GondailaEgypt; SudanGoria FariNigerGoria JaNigerGoṣbi, GouṣbiTunisiaArabic: Gros, Cavirots, RedondosSpainGuewassNigerGulistanPakistanGzazYemenHadibNigerHafsMoroccoHaji MohammadiIranHajriYemenḤalawi, ḤalawyIndia; Iran; Iraq; Israel; PalestineArabic: Soft, and extremely sweet, small to medium in size.HalimaLibyaHalima is a woman's name.Hallaw/TarootBahrainHalliniPakistan; QatarḤalwaAlgeriaArabic: Ḥamra, Ḥamrah, ḤamriaTunisia; Yemen; LibyaArabic: HandhalOmanHaouaMoroccoHarissaDjiboutiHatimiBahrainArabic: HayanyEgypt; Israel; PalestineHayani is a man's name – these dates are dark-red to nearly black and soft.HilaliBahrain; Kuwait; Qatar; Saudi ArabiaArabic: HillawiPakistanHissaTunisiaArabic: File:HissaDates.JPGHitmiQatarHlouaTunisiaArabic: ḤorraTunisiaArabic: ḤulwaSaudi Arabia, IraqArabic: ḤumriBahrainArabic: HussainiPakistanIklaneMoroccoIlfodoneNigerImriDjiboutiIndiSri LankaJabiri, JabriBahrain; Oman; QatarJawan SourPakistanJihelMoroccoJouziKuwaitJudean date palmIsraelArabic: An ancient cultivar which, in 2005, was revived from a 2000-year-old seed. This cultivar is originally from the west coast of the Dead Sea.KaaniheryNigerKabkabIran; SyriaArabic: KarbalinePakistanKarwanPakistanKasho WariPakistanKathariLibyaKehrabaPakistanKentichiAlgeriaArabic: Khaḍrawi, KhaḍrawyDjibouti; India; Iraq; Israel; Palestine; SyriaArabic: The name is Arabic for 'green'; it is a cultivar favoured by many Arabs. It is a soft, very dark date.KhalaṣDjibouti; Sudan; Bahrain; India; Kuwait; Oman; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; SyriaArabic: One of the major palm cultivars in Saudi Arabia. Its fruit is called (). Notably produced in Hofuf (Al-Ahsa) and Qatif in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia (ash-Sharqīyah).KharbalianPakistanKhaṣabKuwait; OmanArabic: Kisba, Kasbat - AsfoorDjibouti; BahrainArabic: KhaṣoueeIranPersian: KhastawiIraq; SyriaArabic: The leading soft date in Iraq; it is syrupy and small in size, prized for dessert.KhawajaBahrainKhenaizi, Khunaizi, Khuneizi, Khinaizy, KhinezeSaudi Arabia; Bahrain; Oman; India; Sudan; Syria; United Arab EmiratesArabic: KhiḍriPalestineArabic: KhoḍrySaudi ArabiaArabic: KhyarahKuwaitArabic: Kinta, KentaTunisiaArabic: Koîdi bichangaChadKoîdi dellémadowChadKoîdowChadKougoudouChadKouhiChadKoukoumaNigerKourdowChadKrouskrousNigerKulmaSudanKuproPakistanKustawyPalestineArabic: LagouTunisiaArabic: LakhdiraMauritaniaLamdinaMauritaniaLargosSpainLemsiTunisiaLéonSpainLibyan DegletLibyaLitimaAlgeriaLohandjéChadLolo, Lolwi, LuluSyria; Kuwait; United Arab EmiratesLoutedMauritaniaMabroom (Barni Al Ola)Saudi ArabiaArabic: A large, elongated dateMabsliOmanMadinaSudanMadiniYemenMadlokiOmanMahboulaMauritaniaMah-LbaïdMoroccoMaiwaNigerMaktoom, Maktoomi, MaktoumiSyria; Kuwait; Saudi ArabiaArabic: Large, red-brown, thick-skinned, soft, medium-sweet date.MalkabyEgyptMalṭiTunisiaArabic: ManakbirA large fruit that ripens early.MarchianoChadMarranerSpainMasli, MasiliOman; SomaliaMaazwatiPakistanMéboulChadMech DeglaAlgeriaMedjool (Mujhoolah)Djibouti; Morocco; Chile; Peru; United States; India; Israel; Kuwait; Palestine; Saudi Arabia; SyriaArabic: A large, sweet and succulent date.MéguirtiChadMékléyaChadMékoîdiChadMektMoroccoMeneifiSaudi ArabiaArabic: MerzibanBahrainArabic: MestaliMoroccoMétéréliChadMétoukouliChadMgmaget AyuobHun, LibyaMijrafYemenMishriq, MishrigSudan, meaning 'east'Wad Khateeb and Wad Laggai varieties in SudanMiskaniSaudi ArabiaArabic: MomegYemenMordasengIranMoscatelSpainMourudowChadMozafati, Mazafati, MuzawatiIran; PakistanPersian: , meaning 'suburban' or 'peripheral'Dark, fleshy and sweet date of medium size with a relatively high moisture content and is suited for fresh consumption, i.e. not dried. At a temperature of it can be kept for up to 2 years.MrizigaMauritaniaMubashirBahrainMudallalBahrainMuwajiBahrainNabtat AliSaudi ArabiaArabic: Nabtat SaifBahrain; Saudi Arabia; SyriaArabic: Nabtat SulṭanSaudi ArabiaArabic: Nabut SultanDjiboutiNaghalOmanNajdaMoroccoNebut SeifKuwait; QatarArabic: NemahanSomaliaNiqalQatarNoyet MekaLibyaOmglaibLibyaOraibyEgyptOtakinPakistanOum ArichMauritaniaOum-N’halMoroccoOumo-AssalaDjiboutiOutoukdimeMoroccoPashpagPakistanPiaromIranA large, thin-skinned, black-brown semi-dry date.QanṭarKuwaitArabic: QashOmanQashmakQatarQaṭarahSaudi ArabiaArabic: Rabbi, RabaiIran; PakistanPersian: RabiaSaudi ArabiaArabic: Ras Lahmer, Ras LtmarMoroccoRoghniPakistanRojoSpainRoṭabIran, IraqArabic: Dark and soft.Ruthana, RotanaSaudi Arabia; QatarArabic: Ruzeiz, Rzaiz, RziziSaudi Arabia; Bahrain; DjiboutiArabic: SabakaSaudi ArabiaArabic: ṢaboBahrainArabic: ṢafawiSaudi ArabiaArabic: Mainly grown in the Al-Madina region. Soft, semi-dried date variety; distinctive deep black colour, length and medium size. Share similarities with Ajwa dates such as taste. ṢafrirIsraelRed colored sweet dates that can be eaten immediately after being harvested from the treeSahcariSomaliaSaiedi, SaidiLibyaSoft, very sweet, these are popular in Libya.SailaLibyaSoft, very sweet, these are popular in Libya.SaïrlayalateMoroccoSakkotyEgyptSalaniOmanSalmadinaMauritaniaSamanyEgyptSamaranKuwaitSariSaudi ArabiaArabic: SayerIran; IraqArabic for 'common'Dark orange-brown, of medium size, soft and syrupy.SeedlingSudanṢefri, ṢufrySaudi ArabiaArabic: ṢegaeSaudi ArabiaArabic: SellajSaudi ArabiaSelmiBahrainSerfatehYemenSetrawiBahrainSewiIndiaShabibiBahrainShahabiSyriaShahal, ShahlSaudi Arabia; OmanArabic: ShahaniIranArabic: ShambariBahrainShamiyaEgyptShamranIndiaShebebiSaudi ArabiaArabic: SheeriDjiboutiShaishi, ShishiSaudi Arabia; Bahrain; Kuwait; QatarArabic: SilsBahrainSiwyEgyptSokotriYemenSoukaniMauritaniaSukkari, Suckari, SokeriSaudi Arabia; Kuwait; LibyaArabic: , meaning 'sugar' or 'sweet one'Yellow skinned; faintly resilient and extremely sweet, often referred to as 'royal dates'. It is arguably the most expensive and premium variety.SullajSaudi ArabiaArabic: SuqadariSomaliaTadmainteMoroccoTafezwinAlgeriaTaghayatNigerTagiatLibyaTakarmust, TakermestAlgeria; TunisiaTalharmaNigerTalisLibyaTalittatNigerTamegLibyaTamezwertAlgeriaTanghalNigerTanjoobBahrainTantbuchtAlgeriaTaqerbuchtAlgeriaTarahimQatarTawraghNigerṬayyar, ṬayerSaudi Arabia; BahrainArabic: TenatSpainTendre DolzSpainTezerzayet, TouzerzayetTunisiaArabic: Kahla and Safra varietiesThoory (Thuri)AlgeriaPopular in Algeria, this dry date is brown-red when cured with a bluish bloom and very wrinkled skin. Its flesh is sometimes hard and brittle but the flavour described as sweet and nutty.Tha'al (Manasif)YemenTidirchi or ToudourchiNigerTiernos, TendreSpainTifredMauritaniaTiguedertMauritaniaTijebMauritaniaTilmoiran or CliyaromNigerTimjuhartAlgeriaTinterguelMauritaniaTinwazidMauritaniaTirtidouChadTissibiAlgeriaTotaPakistanTouzouwzawNigerTrasferitLibyaTronjaTunisiaArabic: TubaigYemenTunisi (Deglet Noor)SudanUm Raḥeem, Um RaḥimSaudi Arabia; BahrainArabic: Um SellaOmanUm Al-DehnKuwaitUm Al-JwaryLibyaUm Al-KhashabSaudi ArabiaBrilliant red skin; bittersweet, hard white fleshVerdalSpainWalloChadWannanaSaudi ArabiaArabic: WardQatarWardangaChadWaserdowChadZabadOmanZaghloulEgypt; India; SyriaDark red skin, long, and very crunchy when fresh (when they are typically served); extremely sweet, with sugar content creating a sense of desiccation in the mouth when eaten. This variety is essentially exclusive to Egypt, where it is subject to an element of nationalist sentiment on account of sharing a name with national hero Saad Zaghloul.ZahidiDjibouti; Chile; Peru; India; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Palestine; SyriaArabic: ; Persian: Medium-sized, cylindrical, light golden-brown semi-dry dates are very sugary, and sold as soft, medium-hard and hard. Arabic for 'ascetic'.ZalaoChadZeburLibyaZurghi (Makkawy)Yemen
See also