Ajwa (Arabic: عجوه) is a cultivar of the palm date widely grown in Medina, Saudi Arabia. It is oval-shaped and medium-sized with black skin.
| Ajwa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genus | Phoenix |
| Species | Phoenix dactylifera |
| Origin | Medina, Saudi Arabia |
Ajwa plantations surround Medina and thousands of tons are exported from them annually.[1] However, it is not exclusive to Medina and is grown elsewhere on the Arabian peninsula and in the Sahara desert.[citation needed]
It is often consumed on Iftar during the month of Ramadan and other Islamic religious events, since it has traditional associations with the Islamic prophet Muhammad.[2][3]
Nutritional content
A commercial brand of ajwa dates (per 100 g) was reported to contain 350 calories, 82.5 g carbohydrates, 2.5 g protein, and 0 g fat, along with 20 g sugars, 7.5 g fiber, 50 mg calcium, 1 mg iron, 875 mg potassium, 0 mg sodium, and 0 mg cholesterol.[4]