concentrated when dry, with less than 20%
moisture. Dry dates are 60 to 80% sugar,
together with some texture-providing pectins
and other cell-wall materials, and a few
percent fatty materials, including the surface
wax. They’re ground into a coarse powder to
make “date sugar.”
The drying process causes dates to develop
a brown color and browned flavor thanks both
to the action of browning enzymes on
phenolic materials, and to the browning
reactions between concentrated sugars and
amino acids. Some varieties rich in phenolic
materials, notably the Deglet Noor, can
develop an increased astringency and red
coloration when heated. Phenolic and other
compounds give dates notable antioxidant and
antimutagenic activities.
Fig Figs are the fruits of Ficus carica, a tree
native to the Mediterranean and Middle East,
and a relative of the mulberry. Because like