Mazafati, Rabbi, Piarom and Zahedi compared side by side: texture, colour, moisture, sweetness, typical uses and storage.
Iran grows many date varieties. Four of them are widely exported: Mazafati, Rabbi, Piarom and Zahedi. They differ mainly in moisture and texture, which affects how each variety is packed, stored and used.
This guide summarises general, published characteristics of each variety. Actual values vary with harvest, grade and handling, and are confirmed for each order.
| Characteristic | Mazafati | Rabbi | Piarom | Zahedi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Soft (fresh) date | Semi-dry date | Semi-dry date | Dry date |
| Texture | Soft and fleshy | Semi-dry and chewy | Firm yet tender, thin skin | Firm and dry |
| Colour | Dark brown to black | Dark reddish-brown to black | Dark brown to black-brown | Golden to light brown |
| Moisture | High | Medium | Low to medium | Low |
| Sweetness | Sweet | Sweet | Sweet | Moderately sweet |
| Appearance | Medium size, glossy dark skin | Elongated, shiny skin | Large and elongated; thin skin attached to the flesh | Oval, golden, firm skin |
| Main growing areas in Iran | Kerman province (Bam, Jiroft) | Sistan and Baluchestan province | Hormozgan province (Hajiabad area) | Southern and south-western Iran |
| Typical applications | Direct consumption and retail packs | Retail packs and snacking | Premium retail and gift packs, snacking | Snacking and food processing |
| Storage | Usually kept chilled; a cold chain is recommended | Long shelf life; store in a cool, dry place | Stores well in cool, dry conditions | Easy to transport and store; long shelf life in cool, dry places |
Mazafati is a soft, dark and fleshy date of medium size. Because of its high moisture it is usually stored and shipped chilled, and it is mostly sold for direct consumption. In India, Mazafati dates are also known as Kimia dates.
View Mazafati Dates
Rabbi is a semi-dry date with dark, shiny skin, grown mainly in Sistan and Baluchestan. Its lower moisture gives it a long shelf life in dry storage.
View Rabbi Dates
Piarom is a large, semi-dry date with thin, dark skin, produced mainly around Hajiabad in Hormozgan province. It keeps well in dry storage and is often used for premium retail packs.
View Piarom Dates
Zahedi is a dry, golden date with firm flesh. Its dry nature makes it easy to transport and store, and it is used both for snacking and as a raw material in food processing.
View Zahedi DatesSoft, high-moisture dates such as Mazafati need chilled storage and transport, which should be planned into the supply chain.
Semi-dry and dry varieties such as Rabbi, Piarom and Zahedi are easier to store and ship over longer distances.
Grade, size and packaging depend on the end use: retail packs, gift boxes, bulk cartons or raw material for processing. We confirm these with you before each order.
Tell us the products, quantities and destination. We will reply with specifications and a quotation.
