Khalal dates are yellow or red, round, and the size of a large grape or small Roma tomato. This stage has the highest water content, but it’s still considerably lower than most fruits.

Rutab dates are at the peak of ripeness. They have about 30% less water than khalal dates and are much sweeter. In this stage, the skin of the fruit has turned brown and begun to wrinkle.

Tamr dates are the ones most people are familiar with. These sun-dried dates have a moisture content of less than 10%. The sugars are ultra-concentrated, making them incredibly sweet.

These large dates are the most popular variety eaten across the world. They are reddish-brown and contain more moisture than many other dates in the tamr stage.

These small, very dry dates have a low glycemic index due to a high fructose concentration. This makes them an excellent sweet snack option for people with diabetes.