Ajwa Dates: Grades, Pack Sizes, Prices and How to Store Them

Ajwa dates are a small, almost-black date variety from Madinah in Saudi Arabia, with soft, fine-grained flesh and a gentle sweetness that hints at raisin and cocoa. Prized in Muslim tradition, Ajwa are a favourite gift at Ramadan and Eid, and many pilgrims bring them home from Madinah. This guide covers regular vs jumbo Grade A, which pack size to buy for gifts, iftar or bulk, how to compare prices fairly and how to store them, with our range of Ajwa dates delivered across the UK.

What are Ajwa dates?

Ajwa (also spelt Ajwah) is one of the many varieties of the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera. A 2022 study of date palms across the Madinah region, published in BMC Plant Biology, recorded Ajwa fruit as red when fresh and black when dry, with a round shape, wrinkled skin and an average size of about 2.9cm long by 2.2cm wide. Safawi and Medjool, measured in the same study, were longer and oblong.

In our Leen Ajwa Dates, the flesh is soft and fine-grained, and the sweetness is gentle, with hints of raisin and cocoa. In Madinah itself, sellers told Arab News in 2022 that Ajwa and Safawi were the most popular dates with Hajj pilgrims buying gifts to take home.

Where Ajwa dates are grown

Ajwa grow mainly in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Province, the region around the holy city of Madinah (Medina) in western Saudi Arabia, and the palms are relatively few. Saudipedia, the Saudi Ministry of Media’s encyclopedia, puts the number of Ajwa palms at about 800,000 to 900,000. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics counted more than 37.6 million date palms nationwide in 2024, so only a small share of them are Ajwa.

Regular vs jumbo Grade A Ajwa

Every pack of whole Ajwa we sell holds the same variety, so the main differences are size and presentation. In our range, “jumbo” marks the larger dates, and the 1kg and 5kg boxes of Madina Jumbo Ajwa Dates Grade A are larger-size Grade A Ajwa. Packs without “jumbo” in the name are regular size, as the table below shows. If you are searching for premium or jumbo Ajwa, the jumbo packs are the larger grade.

Jumbo and Grade A are trade grades, not international sizes. The international Codex standard for dates has just three optional size labels (small, medium and large), based on how many dates there are in 500g. Whole dates with their stones count as large at fewer than 80 per 500g, and small at more than 100. Choose jumbo where presentation matters, for gifts, hosting and Eid, and regular Ajwa for everyday eating and a month of iftars.

Which Ajwa pack size should I buy?

Whether you want to buy Ajwa dates for a gift, for iftar or in bulk, this is how our packs compare:

How to compare Ajwa dates prices

Ajwa prices vary with grade, pack size and packaging, so the pack price alone can mislead. Every size in our Ajwa dates collection shows its price per kilo, which makes a fair comparison quick:

• Compare per kilo: especially for the 7-piece pack, which is sized by count rather than weight (its net weight is 60g), or when weighing a 400g pack against an 800g pack or a 1kg box.
• Match the grade: compare jumbo with jumbo and regular with regular. For Ajwa dates in 1kg boxes, the choice is between the regular Madina Ajwa 1kg box and the Madina Jumbo Ajwa Grade A 1kg box.
• Match the format: a gift box or bamboo basket includes its presentation, so set it against other gift formats rather than a bulk box.
• Add delivery: UK delivery is free on orders over £45, so on a smaller order, include the delivery charge in your sums. See our delivery information.

Ajwa vs Medjool vs Safawi

Ajwa are often compared with Medjool, the large, soft date covered in our Medjool dates guide, and with Safawi, the other popular dark date of Madinah. The lengths are averages from the 2022 Madinah study.

Because Ajwa and Safawi are both dark, shape is the quickest way to tell them apart: Ajwa are small and round, Safawi longer and oblong. Medjool are bigger again, lighter in colour and softer still.

Ways to enjoy Ajwa dates

• With Arabic coffee: Ajwa’s gentle sweetness goes well with Arabic coffee or black tea, so they are an easy thing to offer when guests arrive.
• At iftar: the evening meal often begins with dates and water. In 2027, Ramadan is expected to start on Monday 8 February, subject to the moon sighting; our Ramadan 2027 guide has the expected dates and iftar ideas.
• In baking: Madina Ajwa Date Paste is a smooth paste made from Ajwa dates, in plain, black seed, or cardamom and cloves, each in 250g and 700g sizes. Use it to fill maamoul and date rings, or spread it between the layers of a date slice; our date paste guide has more ideas.
• Ready to serve: Madina Tamria Ajwa Date Balls 300g are Ajwa dates blended with cardamom and rolled in sesame or black seed. Sesame is one of the coatings, so check the allergen information first if allergies are a concern.
• Ajwa seeds: if you are looking for Ajwa seed powder, Madina Ajwa Date Seed Powder is 100% ground seeds of Ajwa dates from Madinah, in a 200g pot, and it also comes in 200g packs, plain or blended with black seed, cardamom and cloves. For date seed “coffee”, our whole Ajwa date seeds (250g or 500g) are sold for roasting at home: roast them, grind them, then brew the powder as you would coffee.

How to store Ajwa dates

• Unopened: store the pack in a cool, dry cupboard away from sunlight, and go by its best-before date and storage instructions.
• Opened: tip the dates into an airtight tub or reseal the bag well. The fridge keeps them moist for longer; serve them at room temperature, when they are softest.
• Away from strong smells: the World Food Logistics Organization’s storage manual, an industry guide, warns that dates absorb odours and take on the flavours of foods stored nearby, so keep Ajwa away from onions and other strong-smelling foods.
• Bulk boxes: divide a 1kg or 5kg box into smaller airtight portions, keep one in the fridge for daily use and freeze the rest. The same manual says freezing does not harm dates.
• Paste and date balls: once opened, follow the storage advice on the pack.

Frequently asked questions

Where do Ajwa dates come from?

Ajwa come from Saudi Arabia, where they grow mainly in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Province, around the holy city of Madinah. In our range, Leen Ajwa are genuine Ajwa from Madinah, and all our Madina Ajwa, regular and jumbo, are Ajwa from Madinah too: the 400g and 600g clear boxes, the 1kg and 5kg boxes, and the jumbo Grade A boxes, gift box and bamboo basket.

Why are Ajwa dates expensive?

Limited supply and strong demand both play a part. Ajwa grow mainly around Madinah, and Saudi figures put the number of Ajwa palms at about 800,000 to 900,000, a small share of the Kingdom’s more than 37.6 million date palms. They are also popular gifts: sellers in Madinah told Arab News in 2022 that Ajwa and Safawi were the most popular dates with pilgrims. Grade and packaging affect the price too, so compare like with like, per kilo.

Which is better, Ajwa or Medjool?

Neither is better; they suit different tastes. Medjool are large, very soft and caramel-sweet, and good for stuffing with nuts. Ajwa are smaller, round and almost black, with a gentler sweetness and a hint of raisin and cocoa. Because they are especially cherished in Muslim tradition, Ajwa are often the date chosen as a gift for Ramadan and Eid. If you can’t decide, try a small pack of each side by side.

Do Ajwa dates count towards your 5 A Day?

For general advice on dates, see the NHS. Its 5 A Day guidance says a 30g portion of dried fruit, such as dates, counts as 1 of your 5 A Day, and that “dried fruit should be eaten at mealtimes, not as a between-meal snack, to reduce the risk of tooth decay”. If you have diabetes or another health condition, follow the advice of your GP or diabetes team about including dates in your meals.