Date palms thrive in hot, dry climates. They grow throughout northern Africa and the Middle East, and they flourish in desert oases where few plants can grow. The date palm is one of the oldest crop plants. Early civilizations began to cultivate date palms at least 5,000 years ago. Today, dates still form an important part of the diet in many desert countries.
Date palms have many uses.
They provide nourishment, shade, building materials, and fuel. They are especially important to Muslim peoples of the Middle East. According to Muslim legend, the date palm represents the tree of life. Dates have a high sugar content, making them rich in carbohydrates. People eat dates fresh or dried.