Dumat Al Jandal: The Al-Jouf region is renowned for its abundant production of dates, boasting over eleven varieties cultivated across its agricultural lands. Each year, these dates enrich the local market and are celebrated at an annual festival in Dumat Al Jandal.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the latest National Center for Palm and Dates statistics reveal that Al-Jouf is home to 984,048 palm trees, of which 798,649 are fruitful, producing a remarkable 43,203 tons of dates.
During Ramadan, dates take center stage at iftar tables for Muslims to break their fast. Residents eagerly preserve the Hilwah Al-Jouf dates following the harvest season. This process begins after the palm trees yield their dates, involving careful cleaning, pit removal, and drying before packaging them into large containers weighing up to 15 kg and smaller packs for daily consumption. The Ramadan table is adorned with Hilwah Al-Jouf, known for its large size, which has been turned into molasses-like confectionary locally referred to as Al-Majrash. Families take pride in presenting Hilwah Al-Jouf at iftar, and many farmers often gift portions of their harvest to relatives and neighbors.
Al-Jouf produces a variety of dates, including the Sagai, the Medjool, and the Sukkari. Farmer Marwan Al-Mofarij notes that the demand for Hilwah Al-Jouf dates surges during Ramadan, as they are a beloved addition to the iftar spread. Often served with local products like the samh plant and sheep's milk butter, dates have also found their way into various desserts, such as date cakes, Qashd, and Al-Bakila.