Dates don’t grow on bushes or vines. They grow on the date palm, a tree that looks like it belongs in a cartoon oasis. Imagine a tall, shaggy tree with a crown of huge feathery leaves, and underneath all that green hang big bunches of brown fruit.
These trees are incredibly old-school, too. People have been growing them for thousands of years in the Middle East and North Africa. If you’ve ever seen a picture of an ancient Egyptian tomb, chances are there’s a date palm painted on the wall right next to the pharaoh.
Where the Magic Happens
The date palm isn’t a picky plant, but it does have a favorite hangout spot: hot, dry deserts. Think of places like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, and here in the US—California and Arizona.
But here’s the funny thing. While they love blistering sun, their roots need to drink. They’re like that friend who loves a beach vacation but needs to stay within ten feet of the pool. So you’ll find date palms growing in valleys where water is available, like the Coachella Valley in California.
When you bite into a Medjool date, there’s a good chance it came from a ranch right there under that desert sun. It’s a little taste of a very specific, sunburnt landscape.
