Are black dates made from red dates? An introduction to the market season of black dates
Although black dates are called dates, they actually belong to the persimmon family, containing rich dietary fiber, pectin, protein, vitamins and a variety of trace elements, etc. In pharmacology, they also have the effect of enriching the blood and treating insomnia, so many people like to eat them directly or use them in soups. So are black dates made from red dates? When are they on the market?
Are black dates made from red dates?
No. There are two kinds of black dates. One is made from fresh dates (red dates) through special processing (oil boiling, smoking), belonging to dried products of fresh dates; the color is pitch-black, hence it is also called “wu date”. Although this kind of black date is also rich in nutrition, it still belongs to the red date category, and is completely different from the black date among the traditional kidney-tonifying foods known as the “black five categories”. The other kind is widely distributed in northern China. Although it is also called a date, it actually does not belong to the date category as we usually know it, but is a persimmon genus plant native to northeastern Asia.
The black date generally referred to is a dried product of fresh dates, made by boiling fresh dates in cottonseed oil and pine rock water, then smoking and roasting them over fire. It is not only sweet and refreshing in taste, but also rich in nutrition, containing large amounts of protein, fat, sugars and various vitamins.
Differences between the two:
Red dates: thin skin and thick flesh, moderately sweet, rich in nutrition, an excellent product for autumn and winter nourishment. They contain large amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B2 and many other vitamin types, and have the highest vitamin content among all fruits. Red dates are neutral in nature and can effectively support the spleen and stomach, enrich the blood and moisten the lungs, and tonify the middle and boost qi. They have good effects on improving complexion, detoxifying and beautifying, and promoting urination, and are suitable for combining with various medicinal materials for treating illness. In daily life, what is generally used medicinally is red dates.
Black dates: black dates are dried products of fresh dates, made by boiling fresh dates in cottonseed oil and pine rock water, then smoking and roasting them over fire. They are not only sweet and refreshing in taste, but also rich in nutrition, containing large amounts of protein, fat, sugars and various vitamins. In addition, black dates are cold in nature, so patients with poor spleen and stomach or weak spleen and stomach should eat less, and should not eat them on an empty stomach.
Compared with red dates, black dates have stronger blood-enriching and qi-tonifying effects. Black dates contain large amounts of vitamins, which can effectively enhance the body's immunity and disease resistance, and can also effectively prevent various cancers, blood vomiting and other diseases. Black dates are cold in nature and can effectively nourish the internal organs.
When are they on the market?
When ripe, black dates are blue-black, with a white waxy layer, and nearly stalkless. The flowering period is May, and the fruit ripening period is October to November. They are generally on the market in October.