Chocolate Dates

Dates have been a staple food of the Middle East and parts of South Asia for thousands of years. They have been cultivated since ancient times from Mesopotamia to prehistoric Egypt, possibly as early as 4000 BCE. Spreading out from the Middle East, date palms were carried far, far away by traders and travellers. An old Arabic legend says that the date palm, also called the “Tree of Life,” has been made from the dust that was left after the creation of Man and planted in the Garden of Paradise. The date palm has been identified as the tree symbolizing life for its many uses of all parts of the tree. Dates are a concentrated nutrition and energy provider and they were easily stored and carried along on desert journeys. Throughout the history dates were an important sweetening element and are still often eaten with coffee to contrast its bitterness. In the recent years dates have evolved from being a staple food into a luxury treat. When enrobed in milk, dark or white chocolate and filled with nuts they provide perfect combination of flavours for a delicious treat.