Barni Dates تمر البرني

Few cultivars appear in early Hijazi sources as often as Barni, described as among the finest and most wholesome dates of Madinah, with a well-known saying handed down about its virtues. To this day Barni remains a symbol of blessing on Madinah tables during Ramadan and the Eids.

The fruit is oval and medium-sized, its skin yellow turning brown at full ripeness, with fine-fibred soft flesh that yields easily and a clean, moderate sweetness that never cloys. It is loved as rutab early in the season and as a semi-dry tamr once cured.

Barni palms fill the orchards of Quba, Al-Awali and the Madinah outskirts; the harvest window runs from mid to late season depending on location. Known for being gentle on digestion, it is offered to fasting people, children and elders alike.