If you are visiting the Palm Springs area don’t forget to try some of the tasty California dates that are grown in the Coachella Valley. It is a short drive to Indio and Coachella where you will find many different places to sample and purchase some dates
Date Facts
Like any fresh fruit, there are many varieties of dates, each with its own distinctive taste, texture, size and flavor. For this reason, different dates are used to make different products, and some varieties are actually combined to make up paste, date rolls, date shakes and breads.
Dates are truly nature’s answer to our sweet tooth. Some varieties provide energy in the form of natural invert sugars, important for persons who cannot tolerate sucrose. The Medjool and Zahidi, and also the Halawy and Khadrawy varieties are some which provide a higher than average natural invert sugar content. These dates are most commonly used not only for eating, but also for industrial and confectionary products.
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 5-6 dates Amount per serving
Calories 120 Calories from Fat 0 % Daily Value Total Fat 0g 0% Saturated Fat 0g 0% Cholesterol 0mg 0% Sodium 0mg 0% Potassium 240mg 7% Total Carbohydrate 31g 10% Dietary Fiber 3g 14% Sugars 29g Protein 1g Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 2% • Iron 2% Thiamin 2% • Riboflavin 2% Niacin 2% • Vitamin B6 2% Folate 2% • Phosphorus 2% Magnesium 4% • Pantothenic Acid 2%
Date Shake Recipes
Low-Fat Date Shakes
Ingredients
1 Cup chopped, pitted California dates
1 Cup 1% milk or skim milk
1 Ripe banana
1 ( 8-ounce ) container low fat vanilla yogurt
1 Cup crushed ice
Directions
In a blender, combine the dates, orange juice, banana, yogurt, and ice and blend for 1 minute or 2 minutes until frothy and thick.
Then enjoy a great treat ! ! !
Yield: 2 servings unless someone likes more than others…
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
ORANGE Date Shake
Ingredients
1/2 cup whole pitted dates
1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup vanilla frozen yogurt
Combine dates and orange juice in blender and puree until dates are finely chopped.
Add frozen yogurt; blend until combined.
Makes 1 serving
This is an official 5 A Day recipe.
Recipe provided by the California Date Administrative Committee.
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving: Calories, 497; Fat, 3g; Fiber, 4g; Cholesterol, 8mg; Sodium, 117mg; percent calories from fat, 5%.
You can also add chocolate syrup or other fruits! SWEET! ! !
MOCHA Date Shake
Ingredients
1/2 cup whole, pitted dates
1/2 cup 1% milk
1-1/2 teaspoons chocolate syrup
3 scoops coffee ice cream
Preparation
Combine all ingredients except ice cream in blender and puree until dates are finely chopped.
Add ice cream; blend until just combined.
Where to buy dates in the Coachella Valley
There are several places in the valley where you can purchase some California Dates. Shields Date Garden and Oasis Date Gardens are two of the more popular places.
Shields Date Garden
80-225 U.S. Highway 111
Indio, CA 92201-6599
Oasis Date Gardens
59-111 Grapefruit Blvd.
Thermal, CA 92274