Kharjµura is one of the commonly used fruits and is one among the ‘Madhura Triphala’. Madanapala quoted two varieties viz., pinda-kharjura and bhumi-kharjura which are botanically identified with P. sylvestre and P. dactylifera respectively. Bhavamishra described four varieties viz., Bhumi kharjurika, Pindaa, Gostani kharjura (Chohara) and Sulemani kharjura. Raja Nighantu mentioned five varieties viz., Kharjuri, Pinda Kharjuri, Raja Kharjuri, Madhu Kharjuri and Bhu Kharjuri. Basically, Kharjµura is the name of the fruit, Kharjuri is the source plant, and Kharjµura Mastaka or Madhya or Majja is the edible growing point of the stem. Iraq used to be a major producer of dates but in recent years. Dried dates are fed to camels, horses and dogs in the Sahara. In northern Nigeria, dates and peppers added to the native beer are believed to make it less intoxicating. In India, North Africa, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, date palms are tapped for the sweet sap which is converted into palm sugar (known as jaggery or gur), molasses or alcoholic beverages.
Different varieties available are–
(1) Pinda Kharjura (common variety)- P. dactylifer Linn (Arabian Dates)
(2) The dwary variety – P. acaulis Buch. Ham
(3) The dwary variety – P. sylvestris Roxb.
(4) Dwarf Date Palm – P. humilis Royle.
(5) Sulemani variety – P. pusilla (Gaertn.)
Thakurji reported that- “Some profession people are seen, selling small pieces of a decorticated and big reddish tuberous structure ‘Mula kanda’ or Rma kanda. This appears to be the growing pithy top of the stem. The saccharine liquid over flowing from the cut top is known as Kharjuri”.
A large number of date cultivars are grown. Three main cultivar groups of date exist; soft (e.g. ‘Barhee’, ‘Halawy’, ‘Khadrawy’, ‘Medjool’), semi-dry (e.g. ‘Dayri’, ‘Deglet Noor’, ‘Zahidi’), and dry (e.g. ‘Thoory’). The type of fruit depends on the glucose, fructose and sucrose content.
Some date varieties include the following:
Asharasi is an excellent dry date of Iraq, with a rich nutty flavour. The flesh at the tip is translucent amber, shading to a creamy-white at the stalk.
Barhi/Barhee is the prime date of Arabia, valued for its delicate and rich flavour. The ripening date develops its sweetness at an early stage, making it a popular fresh date, which also cures well.
Deglet Noor is an attractive date originating in Tunisia, and has become popular in the US as well as dominating the European trade. It is very sweet and mild in flavour and has translucent flesh. Its principal sugar is sucrose unlike most other varieties whose sucrose has inverted to glucose and fructose at maturity.
Fardh is a staple date of Oman. A good keeper, it is reddish-brown at the fresh stage and has a moderate sweetness, but rather a bland flavour.
Gundila is one of the dominant and premium varieties in the Sudan. It is large, and just seven of them were the breakfast ration of a schoolchild in the 1960s.
Halawi/Halawy is a very sweet, soft, pale-coloured date from Mesopotamia. It is the major commercial date for export, mainly because it is not well-favoured in its own country.
Hilali is an Arabian date available fresh only at the very end of the season. It has an excellent flavour, but does not cure well so must be eaten fresh.
Khadrawi/Khadrawy is a heavy cropping, soft, premium fruit popular because of its rich flavour.
Khalas is the most famous date of Arabia, originating in the Hofuf oasi, but now widely cultivated. The fruit has a caramel flavour when cured, but is also excellent when fresh. The name means ‘quintessence’, which aptly describes the fruit.
Khustawi is one of the premier dates of Iraq, having a rich sweet flavour. Although the yield is low, it has a good keeping ighant.
Khidri is a large maroon red date which originates from Egypt and has a firm chewy texture. It is medium sweet with a mild flavour that hints of raisins.
Medjool/Medjul is a deep red date with thick flesh, little fiber, and a rich flavour. It is found widespread commercially.
Mactoum is a small, nicely flavoured date originating in Iraq down the Gulf. It has a good balance of sweetness and astringency in the semi-ripe stage.
Neghal is the earliest ripening date of Oman and UAE (United Arab Emirates). It crops heavily and is mostly eaten fresh from May onwards.
Yatimeh is a popular North African date eaten fresh as well as cured. It is soft and syrupy, but after drying is firm yet tender and has a pronounced flavour. The syrup sometimes will drip from the ripe bunches on the tree.
Zahidi is the principal commercial date of Iraq and sold in three stages of maturity from soft to dry. The palm is prolific and easy to maintain. The fruit has a high sugar content so is used as an industrial source of the sweetener as well.
Botanical Description (Phoenix Sylvestris) – The Sylvester Palm is a very hardy, easy to grow palm. With a slim slender trunk and leaves with silver tint, the tree is very drought-resistant. Often reaching 35-feet tall. The leaves typically measure about nine feet long, and are generally gently curved. The fruit is a drupe known as a date. They are oval-cylindrical, 3–7 cm long, and 2–3 cm diameter, and when unripe, range from bright red to bright yellow in colour, depending on variety. Dates contain a single seed about 2–2.5 cm long and 6–8 mm thick. The Date Palm is dioecious, having separate male and female plants.
Part Used– Fruit, leaf
Dosage– Decoction 50-100ml, fruit 10-20 g.
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