Riyadh:As uses for the date palm and its components expand, the hard date pit is now being transformed into a beverage with a coffee-like flavor, along with products such as oils, powders, and hair care items.
According to Saudi Press Agency, this innovative approach emphasizes the potential of date palm components beyond just the fruit. Date pits undergo a process of cleaning, drying, roasting, and grinding to produce a beverage that can be enhanced with flavors like cardamom, saffron, or cloves, merging local heritage with product innovation.
Herbalist Saleh Al-Rasheed explained that traditionally, date pits were used as camel feed, especially during long journeys and the Hajj pilgrimage. He noted that the resulting date-pit coffee has a coffee-like taste but is caffeine-free.
Al-Rasheed detailed that the production process starts with thoroughly washing the pits to eliminate any leftover fruit residue. This is followed by drying, roasting to achieve the desired color and flavor, and grinding into a powder ready for brewing. Date pits are also utilized to produce oil and powder for certain hair care applications, reflecting broader efforts to maximize the value of date palm components.
