Date Beer and Date Wine in Antiquity

From Honey Wine to the Cultivation of the Grape: An Early History of Fermented Beverages

“…As a result, ancient Egyptians considered it the most important of the cultivated fruit-trees (60). The date palm furnishes sources of sugar via both fruit (dates) and sap, with dry dates containing 70-80% sugar (14,(57)(58)(59). In addition, the date fruit provided a source of date honey (a date-sugar syrup) that was more common than bee honey in antiquity throughout the Fertile Crescent (54).…”

“…In the same way, dates were also an important and commonly used food in ancient Egypt (55). The date palm had been domesticated by 4000 BCE, most likely in southern Mesopotamia (14,57,58) where it was well established by 3000 BCE (59). It is highly adapted to a xeric habitat and thrives in desert environments that are unsuitable for most crops (59), although it does require plenty of water.…”

“…It is highly adapted to a xeric habitat and thrives in desert environments that are unsuitable for most crops (59), although it does require plenty of water. Unlike any other cultivated tree, however, the date palm can tolerate water of high salinity and thus it can survive with a supply of brackish water (57,58). In Palestine, its natural habitat is the Rift Valley, although some small plantations might be also found in the southern coastal plain (57).…”

“…Unlike any other cultivated tree, however, the date palm can tolerate water of high salinity and thus it can survive with a supply of brackish water (57,58). In Palestine, its natural habitat is the Rift Valley, although some small plantations might be also found in the southern coastal plain (57).…”

“…Economically, the date palm is considered a very valuable plant with high productivity (57). As a result, ancient Egyptians considered it the most important of the cultivated fruit-trees (60).…”