The date palm which is one of the holiest and probably oldest fruit trees known to human, is a plant of the Palmaceae family; the height of the trunk varies in its different varieties and reaches more than 30 meters. The date palm or palm tree is estimated to be more than seven thousand years old. Some scholars are of the opinion that its origin is the Persian Gulf Coasts including Iran and Iraq, and some others conjecture that it was originated in North Africa or in the Indian Subcontinent.
Dates are rich in natural fiber and are replete with iron, sulfur, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, copper and magnesium. Furthermore, dates are rich in vitamins, enzymes, sugars and carbohydrates, fatty acids, proteins and various minerals. Besides, every 100 grams of date fruit contains more than 200 kilocalories of energy.
In addition to the date fruit, almost all other parts of the palm tree are used for food consumption, medicinal utilization, handicrafts, etc.