The Fruit I Wait for All Year Is Finally Back at Trader Joe’s

I was fully an adult the first time I ever knowingly ate a date. The chewy, wrinkly stone fruits from the date palm tree had simply never crossed my path, and then suddenly they were everywhere—most notably in the date shakes that were popping up all over my Instagram feed.

Dates were so prolific, I finally caved and bought a pack to try one for myself—and they were awesome. Now, I make special trips to Trader Joe’s just to stock up on Medjool dates, which I buy two packs at a time.

What Are Medjool Dates?

Dates are used throughout the world in both sweet and savory applications. In my eyes, at least, they have kind of a healthy-hip reputation, a sort of California cool, likely due to their popularity in the Coachella Valley, where the date shake was pioneered.

There are many different kinds of dates, including Deglet Noor, Ajwa, and Safawi. However, for their tender chew and caramel sweetness, I consider Medjool to be the Rolls-Royce of dates.

Often, you’ll find dates in the dried fruit area of a supermarket, but they’re actually considered a fresh fruit; Trader Joe’s keeps theirs, sold with the pits, in the refrigerated section. These factors give TJ’s dates an unmistakable freshness that I really enjoy—they’re perfectly tender, never dried out, and at $4.99 for 16 ounces, are very reasonably priced.

How to Use Medjool Dates

Now that I’m in my high-fiber era, my eyes go directly to that line on the Nutrition Facts label. TJ’s dates boast a respectable 3 grams of fiber per two dates, which makes them a smart choice for a midday snack, especially when combined with peanut butter and bananas—a heavenly, Chunky Monkey-esque combination that has also enjoyed plenty of recent virality. Also on the sweet side: These Candy Bar Dates have become my treat of choice lately, in the afternoon or post-dinner. 

For a more savory take, I love using Medjool dates in the easy, delectable appetizer known as Devils on Horseback, a combination of the fruit, blue cheese, and bacon. They’re among my favorite back-pocket appetizers because I usually have these ingredients on hand, and they’re always a crowd pleaser.

Once I became a date devotee, I realized that I had met the fruit long before I realized it—they were the star of one of my favorite desserts, sticky toffee pudding. There, they lend their characteristic earthy sweetness and a moist richness to a dish that I order almost every time I see it on a menu. Turns out, I loved dates all along—it just took me some time to realize it.