Saudi Arabia is famous for its wide array and availability of the sweetest, tastiest dates in the world. This fruit is a staple delicacy on the tables of Saudi and Muslim homes. Date lovers can choose from the Sukkari, Majdool, Saqi, Khadrawy, among many others. To get a taste of some dates and authentic Arabic coffee and be part of the local buzz, visitors are heading to the “Dates Fair 2012” at the Jeddah International Exhibition Center, which was launched on Wednesday, Dec. 12 to and continue for a week. “A model emulating the old Jeddah gate will be built exclusively out of the finest Saudi dates at the exhibition in the coming days. “The edible structure will be 16 meters wide and 3.3 meters high, making it eligible for entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. “Guests are welcome to participate in the festivities. All the dates used in the construction of the Jeddah gate will be distributed to local charity organizations,” said Amal Al-Zahrani, CEO of the Speaking Silence Group and the main organizer of the exhibition. Abundant at the exhibition are stalls serving and selling dates of almost every single variety, in addition to the aromatic Arabic coffee rich in cardamom as well. A competition, offering amazing prizes, has been announced for the best homemade dish that relies on dates as the main ingredient. The panel of judges comprises expert Saudi chefs and culinary artists, who will sample the dishes and select the winning dish. Other attractions include stalls that offer traditional Saudi foods and memorabilia. Families and children will enjoy plenty of games, a play, and fun educational and entertainment activities. Booths were also given free of charge to charity organizations to introduce their services, work, and goals to visitors and encourage more members of the society to become involved. Amateur and professional photographers are invited to take unique snapshots of the appealing dates found inside the exhibition and submit their photos in a photography competition. The winner will be announced on the final day of the event and he/she will also be awarded a special prize. “Due to the profound success of the Dates Fair in the previous two years and the positive feedback from the community, we are very excited about the Dates Fair 2012, as it is expected to draw a very large audience this year,” said Al-Zahrani. Be sure to visit the Date Fair 2012 buy and stock your own supply of dates in your home as the fruit is known for having rich concentration of several vitamins and minerals. Dates are an excellent source of iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The anti-oxidants found in dates possess anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, and anti-cancer properties. Dates also contain a good amount of fiber. Health professionals recommend a daily intake of 20 to 25 grams of dietary fiber but most people only consume half that amount. Fiber in the diet has several health benefits; it reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines; it is acts as a laxative and helps prevent and treat constipation. By decreasing exposure time of the mucosal lining of the intestines to fecal material and also binding with cancer-causing chemicals, fiber helps to protect against colon cancer, which is one of the most common types of cancer among males in the Kingdom. During the month of Ramadan, dates contain easily digestible simple sugars which replenish energy and revitalize the body almost instantly.
