Some describe the taste and texture of a date as a chewier, more caramelly raisin. Dates have very high sugar content, and like bananas, their sweetness intensifies the riper they get. You can tell a date is fresh and ready to eat when it has a wrinkled exterior, looks nice and plump, and has a slightly glossy sheen. Depending on the variety, fresh dates are fairly small in size and range in color from bright red to bright yellow. Medjool and Deglet Noor dates are the most commonly consumed varieties.
Since they’re dried, their calorie content is higher than most fresh fruit. The calorie content of dates is similar to that of other dried fruits, such as raisins and figs.
A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving provides the following nutrients :