Bulk Date Paste
Bars, bakery fillings, and snack lines use our bulk date paste as a sweetener and binder in one. Made from cleaned, pitted dates (Phoenix dactylifera) that are softened and milled into a smooth, dense paste, it delivers the natural sweetness, body, and caramel flavor of whole dates in a uniform, easily dosed format with no added sugar.
Bulk date paste is available in several moisture grades and date varieties, including Deglet Nour, Zahdi, Naghal, and a Khalas and Barhi blend, standardized at 75 to 80 °Brix with moisture between 16 and 21 percent to match different formulation and processing requirements. It is sourced from established date processors in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia, with additional supply processed in the United States.
Contract packers and brand owners order it in 25 kg packs or custom sizes for bars, bakery fillings, clean label sweetening systems, and plant based lines. Non GMO and gluten free statements, allergen declarations, and process documentation are available on request.
Product Data
| Botanical Name | Phoenix dactylifera |
|---|---|
| Ingredient Type | Made from 100% pitted dates |
| Physical Form | Smooth, dense, homogeneous paste |
| Appearance and Color | Light brown to dark brown, with amber tones on lighter varieties |
| Odor and Flavor | Clean, sweet date flavor with caramel notes |
| Date Varieties | Deglet Nour, Zahdi, Naghal, Khalas and Barhi blend |
| Brix | 75 to 80 °Bx |
| Moisture | 16 to 21%, with grades at 18% and 20% maximum |
| Water Activity | 0.60 to 0.65 |
| pH | 4.0 to 6.0 |
| Total Ash | Below 2% |
| Particle Size | Residual fiber particles below 1.5 mm |
| Foreign Matter | Absent |
| Nutritional Values per 100 g | 282 to 352 kcal; carbohydrates 70 to 81 g; total sugars 60 to 75 g; dietary fiber 5 to 12.5 g; protein 2.3 to 3.3 g; fat below 1 g; sodium below 40 mg |
| Microbiological Limits | Salmonella absent in 25 g; E. coli below 10 cfu/g; total coliforms below 10 cfu/g; yeasts typically below 100 cfu/g; aerobic plate count and mold limits set per supplier specification |
| Allergen Status | Dates are not a major allergen; allergen free facilities available, with cross contact declared per supplier |
| Origin Countries | United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United States |
| Shelf Life | 18 months unopened, 12 months on select grades |
| Storage Conditions | Cool, dry, ambient storage at 18 to 25°C, away from direct sunlight and heat sources; do not freeze |
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Certifications & Compliance
- Documentation available upon request may include: Date paste orders can be backed by a COA, product specification sheet, allergen statement, country of origin records, process flow chart and HACCP plan, and a Prop 65 statement.
- Statements (availability may vary by supplier, origin, grade, and production lot): Non GMO, Gluten Free, Allergen Free Facility. Source86 operates as a BRCGS AA certified broker, supporting facility level quality and food safety expectations.
- Heavy metals, extended microbiological, and pesticide residue reports for date paste can be arranged per order.
Production & Sourcing
Our date paste processors operate at the center of global date cultivation and supply the Deglet Nour, Zahdi, Naghal, and Khalas and Barhi grades.
How It’s Produced:
- Receiving and Inspection: Harvested dates are received, graded, and inspected for ripeness, color, and defects before processing begins.
- Washing and Pitting: Dates are washed to remove dust and field debris, then pitted mechanically to remove the seed.
- Softening: Pitted fruit is gently heated or steamed to soften the flesh and prepare it for milling.
- Milling and Refining: Softened dates are minced and milled into a smooth, homogeneous paste with a consistent texture.
- Sieving and Inspection: The paste is passed through fine screens to remove residual fiber and any pit fragments, then checked for moisture and Brix.
- Packaging: Finished paste is quality checked and packed into bulk formats such as 25 kg packs, with 12.5 kg and 1 kg formats available from select suppliers.
Harvest & Supply Availability
Date palms are harvested once a year, between late summer and early winter depending on origin and variety. Because dates store well after harvest, paste is produced year round from graded fruit, and sourcing across several origins supports consistent inventory and lead times through the full calendar.
Applications
- Bars and Energy Bites: Fruit and nut bars, protein bars, and energy balls, where date paste binds dry ingredients and sweetens without added sugar.
- Bakery: Cookies, muffins, breads, and cakes, where the paste adds sweetness, moisture, and a soft, tender crumb.
- Bakery Fillings: Ma’amoul, filled cookies, pastries, and laminated doughs that need a stable, bake resistant date filling.
- Breakfast Cereals and Granola: Granola clusters, cereal binders, and coated flakes, where date paste acts as a natural sweetening binder.
- Snacks and Confectionery: Date rolls, stuffed dates, chocolate centers, and fruit based confections with a rich caramel profile.
- Sauces, Dressings and Marinades: Barbecue sauces, chutneys, glazes, and dressings that need natural sweetness and body.
- Dairy and Plant Based Alternatives: Plant based yogurts, frozen desserts, and smoothie bases sweetened with fruit rather than refined sugar.
- Nutritional Products and Kids’ Snacks: Fruit purees, fruit snacks for children, and nutritional bars built on single ingredient fruit sweetness.
- Private Label and Contract Manufacturing: Suitable for contract packers and private label manufacturers producing clean label and refined sugar free finished products.
Physical & Functional Characteristics
Smooth, dense, homogeneous paste; light brown to dark brown depending on variety.
Rich, natural date sweetness with caramel notes; complements both sweet and savory systems.
Clean, characteristic date aroma, free of fermented or off notes.
Soft, pliable, and uniform, firming at lower temperatures and softening when gently warmed.
16 to 21 percent moisture with water activity of 0.60 to 0.65, supporting shelf stability.
Single ingredient: 100 percent pitted dates, with no added sugar or carriers.
A source of natural fruit sugars and dietary fiber, with naturally occurring potassium and very low fat.
Plant based, vegan, and gluten free by nature, with allergen status confirmed per supplier.
Functionality
- Provides natural sweetness from fruit sugars, supporting reduced or no added sugar claims.
- Contributes body, moisture, and a soft, chewy texture to bars, bakery, and fillings.
- Functions as a natural binder that holds nuts, seeds, oats, and dried fruit together without syrups.
- Supports moisture retention in baked goods, helping products stay soft through shelf life.
- Integrates smoothly into doughs, batters, and wet blends when gently warmed before mixing.
- Enables browning and caramel flavor development during baking through its natural sugars.
- Contributes dietary fiber that supports fiber content and label positioning in finished products.
Benefits for Commercial Manufacturing
- Defined Moisture Grades: 18% and 20% maximum grades let manufacturers select a firmness aligned with processing and texture targets.
- Variety Selection: Deglet Nour, Zahdi, Naghal, and blended grades support different color, sweetness, and flavor profiles across product lines.
- Clean Label Sweetening: A single ingredient fruit paste replaces refined sugar and syrups with an ingredient consumers recognize.
- Batch Consistency: Standardized Process Targets: Brix held at 75 to 80 and water activity at 0.60 to 0.65 keep sweetness, texture, and line behavior predictable run after run.
- Handling Efficiency: A ready to use paste removes pitting, soaking, and milling from your own line and simplifies dosing.
- Shelf Stable Supply: Low water activity and an 18 month shelf life support predictable inventory planning at ambient storage.
- Bulk and Packaging Flexibility: Supplied in 25 kg packs with custom pack sizes for manufacturers, contract packers, and distributors.
