Every date, compared
Short answers to what buyers and your customers ask most: how the varieties differ, how to store them, and why prices vary.
| Variety | Size | Texture | Sweetness | Colour | Origin | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajwa | Small – medium | Soft | Mild | Almost black | Madinah | Ramadan, gifting |
| Safawi | Medium, longer | Soft – semi-dry | Rich | Dark | Madinah | Everyday, iftar |
| Maryami | Medium, elongated | Soft | Balanced | Dark | Madinah | Retail, Ramadan |
| Mabroom | Long, slender | Firm, chewy | Light | Reddish-brown | Saudi Arabia | Less sweet, gifting |
| Medjool | Large | Soft, moist | Rich, caramel | Amber-brown | Palestine, Madinah | Premium, hampers |
| Sukkari | Medium | Soft (Rotab) or dry (Moftal) | Very sweet | Golden | Saudi Arabia | Desserts, sweet tooth |
The comparisons people search
Ajwa vs Safawi
Both are dark Madinah dates. Ajwa is smaller, rounder and softer with a mild sweetness; Safawi is longer, sweeter and usually more affordable.
Ajwa vs Maryami
Ajwa is small and round with fine skin; Maryami is longer and soft with a balanced sweetness. Ajwa is the more common gift.
Ajwa vs Medjool
Ajwa is small, dark and mildly sweet. Medjool is much larger, moist and caramel-sweet.
Maryami vs Safawi
Both are long, dark Madinah dates. Maryami is softer with a balanced sweetness; Safawi is richer and can be semi-dry.
Soft (Rotab) vs dry dates
Rotab is the soft, moist stage of a date; dry dates such as Sukkari Moftal are crumbly, more concentrated in sweetness and keep longer.
How to store dates, and how long they keep
- Room temperature
- Keep in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, in a sealed container.
- Chilled
- Soft dates such as Rotab and Medjool keep better chilled. Bring back to room temperature before serving.
- Opened 5kg cases
- Move into airtight containers or repack to stop the dates drying out and keep pests away.
- Best before
- Always follow the best-before date printed on each pack.
What decides the wholesale price of dates?
- Variety
- Ajwa and Medjool usually cost more than Safawi or Sukkari.
- Grade & size
- VIP and Jumbo sit above AA and Small.
- Pack format
- 5kg bulk cases cost less per kilo than small retail packs.
- Volume
- Pricing is quoted for your order size.
- Season
- Prices move with each season's crop — which is why we quote on request.