Standing in front of a shelf of dates is genuinely confusing. They're all "dates," the prices range from RM5 to RM40 for what looks like a similar bag, and nothing on the packaging explains why.
This guide fixes that. Eight varieties, what actually separates them, and which one belongs in your basket.
Quick Comparison
| Variety | Origin | Texture | Sweetness | Size | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajwa | Madinah | Soft, dry | Mild | Small | RM8.00 |
| Safawi | Madinah | Soft | Rich | Medium | RM8.90 |
| Mariami | Middle East | Chewy, firm | Rich caramel | Medium–large | RM5.88 |
| Medjool | Palestine | Moist, fudgy | Intense | Very large | RM20.00 |
| Mabroom | Saudi Arabia | Firm, chewy | Subtle | Long, slim | RM38.00 |
| Tunisia | Tunisia | Firm, semi-dry | Delicate, honeyed | Medium | RM15.00 |
| Rotab | Iran | Very soft, wet | Mild, fresh | Medium | RM12.00 |
| Aloei | — | Soft, semi-dry | Fruity, sweet | Medium | RM10.00 / 700g |
First, One Thing That Confuses Everyone
Before the varieties: dates ripen through four stages, and which stage the fruit is picked at matters as much as the cultivar.
| Stage | Name | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimri | Unripe, green, hard |
| 2 | Khalal | Full size, yellow or red, crunchy |
| 3 | Rutab | Ripe, soft, dark, moist |
| 4 | Tamr | Fully dried, chewy, concentrated |
Seven of the eight varieties below are sold at the tamr stage — fully dried. Only Rotab is sold at the rutab stage, which is why it behaves so differently. Our Rotab guide covers this properly.
The Eight Varieties
Ajwa — the one with religious significance
Small, round and near-black with a matte finish and fine pale wrinkles. Mildly sweet, dry-soft in texture.
Ajwa grows only in Madinah, and it's the variety named in the well-known narration about eating seven dates in the morning. That significance, plus limited production, is what sets its price.
Best for: the morning practice, meaningful gifts, anyone who finds most dates too sweet. Read more: Ajwa dates guide
Safawi — Madinah quality, everyday price
Dark brown, oval and soft, with thick caramel-scented flesh. Semi-dry at under 15% moisture, which makes it more forgiving in Malaysian humidity than softer varieties.
Same growing region as Ajwa at a fraction of the price. Most households who want a Madinah date for daily eating end up here.
Best for: daily iftar, everyday snacking, families buying by the kilogram. Read more: Safawi dates guide
Mariami — the best value in the range
Elongated, golden-amber through to dark brown, with thick flesh and a genuinely chewy bite. Rich caramel sweetness.
At RM5.88 for 100g and RM48.90 per kilogram, Mariami is the cheapest date we stock — not because it's lesser, but because it's grown in far greater volume than scarce varieties. Available in six grades, including Golden, which is lighter and milder rather than lower quality.
Best for: bulk Ramadan buying, cooking and kuih, children. Read more: Mariami dates guide
Medjool — the King of Dates
Very large, deep reddish-brown and glossy, with moist fudgy flesh and intense caramel sweetness. Ours is a Product of Palestine, grown in the Jordan Valley.
Two or three genuinely work as dessert. Its softness also makes it the best variety for date paste and baking.
Best for: serving guests, stuffing with nuts, replacing refined sugar in recipes. Read more: Medjool dates guide · Ajwa vs Medjool
Mabroom — for people who find dates too sweet
Long, slender and cylindrical, warm reddish-brown with a satiny sheen. Firm, properly chewy, and distinctly less sugary than everything else on this list.
The variety we recommend to customers who tried Medjool, found it overwhelming, and decided dates weren't for them.
Best for: anyone who dislikes very sweet fruit, workday snacks, cheese boards. Read more: Mabroom dates guide
Tunisia (Deglet Nour) — the light, clean one
The only North African variety here. Deglet Nour is translucent golden-amber, firm and semi-dry, with a delicate honeyed flavour rather than heavy caramel.
Completely different in character from the dark Madinah dates — lighter in every sense.
Best for: people who find dark dates too rich, lunchboxes, everyday snacking.
Rotab — fresh, not dried
Very dark, glossy and visibly moist, with a soft melting texture and mild fresh sweetness. This is the rutab stage — ripe but not yet dried.
It needs refrigeration. That moisture makes it lovely to eat and perishable to store.
Best for: eating chilled, iftar, children and older family members. Read more: What are Rotab dates
Aloei — the newest, and the best value by weight
The most recent addition to our range. Aloei is a rounded, plump date with a deep purple-brown colour and a soft, semi-dry texture — sitting somewhere between Safawi and Mariami in character, with a distinctly fruity sweetness rather than a heavy caramel one.
What stands out is the price. At RM10.00 for a 700g pack, Aloei works out at roughly RM14 per kilogram — well below anything else on this list. For households buying dates in quantity, that's a significant difference.
It's an easy, uncomplicated everyday date: sweet, soft enough for anyone to eat, and generous in the pack.
Best for: everyday snacking, feeding a household, stocking up in volume, sharing with guests.
Availability note: Aloei is a new line and sells through quickly. Check the product page for current stock.
Which Should You Buy?
For daily eating on a budget → Aloei first on price per kilogram, then Mariami, then Safawi
For Ramadan across a whole month → Safawi or Mariami for iftar, a small pack of Ajwa for the morning. See our Ramadan buying guide.
For gifting → Medjool or a higher grade of Ajwa. Size and uniformity carry the presentation.
For cooking and baking → Medjool for paste and blending; Mariami when you want the pieces to hold their shape.
If you don't like sweet things → Mabroom first, then Ajwa or Tunisia.
For the fridge, eaten cold → Rotab.
If you're buying your first premium dates → Medjool wins people over fastest. Ajwa is the one people grow into.
What About Grades?
Most varieties are sold in grades — A, AA, Jumbo, Premium and so on. This confuses a lot of buyers, so to be clear:
Grade refers to size and visual uniformity. It does not mean better fruit, more nutrition, or greater religious significance.
A higher grade is a bigger, more consistent date. That matters for gifting, where appearance is part of the gift. For eating at home, standard grades are the sensible choice.
Are Some Varieties Healthier Than Others?
Not meaningfully. Dates are nutritionally similar across cultivars — roughly 270–280 calories, 6–7g fibre and a good dose of potassium per 100g, with a glycemic index around 50.
The real differences are texture, sweetness, size, origin and price. Choose on those, not on the assumption that an expensive date is a healthier one.
Portion size matters more than variety. Our guide to how many dates to eat a day covers that, including what the research shows about dates and blood sugar.
Storing Dates in Malaysia
Humidity, not time, is what ruins dates here.
- Refrigerate anything you won't finish within a few weeks — essential for Rotab and Medjool, sensible for everything else.
- Freeze for long storage. All varieties freeze well.
- Keep containers sealed and use a dry spoon.
- White surface bloom is crystallised sugar, not mould.
Drier varieties — Ajwa, Mabroom, Tunisia — tolerate the pantry best. Rotab belongs in the fridge from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which date is the healthiest? None stands out significantly. They're nutritionally similar. Choose on taste and purpose.
Which date is the sweetest? Medjool, clearly. The least sweet is Mabroom.
Which is best value? Aloei, at RM10.00 for 700g — roughly RM14 per kilogram. Mariami is the next best at RM48.90 per kilogram.
What are Aloei dates? A newer variety in our range — rounded, purple-brown, soft and fruity, sold in a 700g pack. Easy everyday eating and the cheapest per kilogram of anything we stock.
Which dates are mentioned in Islamic tradition? The well-known narration about seven dates in the morning names Ajwa specifically. For religious guidance, please consult a qualified scholar.
What's the difference between Ajwa and Safawi? Both come from Madinah. Ajwa is smaller, rounder, milder and more expensive. Safawi is larger, softer, sweeter and better value.
Why do prices vary so much? Scarcity, mostly. Ajwa and Mabroom have limited production; Mariami is grown in volume.
Can I mix varieties? Yes, and most households do — one for daily eating, one for the morning, one for guests.
Explore the full range
Shop All Dates at Mahnaz Food →
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Dates are naturally high in sugar. If you are managing diabetes or another health condition, speak to your doctor or dietitian about portion sizes.