Search for "the sweetest date" and you will find a dozen listicles naming sukkari — almost never with a single number attached. Yet the question is a scientific one: sweetness can be measured. This article gathers the data, then answers the more important follow-up: if it is that sweet, can you still eat it every day?
Sukkari's Sugar Data per 100g
A scholarly review in Frontiers in Nutrition (2025) gives us the variety's sugar profile per 100g dry weight — and the composition explains a lot:
| Sugar component | Per 100g (dry weight) |
|---|---|
| Glucose | 51.80g |
| Fructose | 47.50g |
| Sucrose | 3.20g |
Note the pattern: sukkari's sugars are almost entirely invert sugars (glucose + fructose), with sucrose nearly absent. Invert sugars register faster and more intensely on the tongue than sucrose — one reason a first bite of sukkari lights up like liquid caramel. The sweetness reputation is no myth: the fruit's chemistry is genuinely built for maximum perceived sweetness.
Extreme Sweetness, Yet a Low GI of 43.4 — How?
This is our favorite paradox. The same review records a glycemic index of 43.4 for sukkari — squarely in the low-GI category (under 55), lower than many staple foods. Three factors explain it:
- Dominant fructose is metabolized differently from glucose and has a smaller immediate impact on blood sugar.
- Fiber — date fiber ranges from 2.1-10.2% depending on cultivar and ripeness, slowing sugar absorption.
- The whole-fruit matrix — the sugars arrive wrapped in fruit flesh, not as free liquid or crystals as in sweet drinks.
An important caveat: low GI is not a license for unlimited portions. Total glycemic load still depends on how much you eat. If you live with diabetes, discuss date portions with your doctor or dietitian — the figures above are food data, not a medical prescription.
Calories: Making Sense of the Confusing 270-373 kcal Range
Online nutrition databases list sukkari dates anywhere from roughly 270 to 373 kcal per 100g — a spread that leaves readers unsure which number to trust. The explanation is simple: moisture. Rutab carrying 30-40% water is naturally lower in calories per 100g than near-dry tamr/mufattal with concentrated sugars. The practical fix is per-piece math: at an average 15-20g per fruit, one sukkari date contributes about 45-60 kcal — biscuit territory, but arriving with fiber, potassium (410-1,176.9 mg per 100g across dates per the same review), and zero added sugar.
Fiber and Potassium: The Bonus Behind the Sweetness
The same review records two companion nutrients that give the sweetness substance: fiber, ranging from 2.1-10.2% across cultivars and ripeness levels — the component that extends satiety and slows sugar absorption; and potassium at 410-1,176.9 mg per 100g — the electrolyte mineral behind muscle function and fluid balance. Compare that with candy or syrup, which deliver sugar with no companions at all: that is the difference between "empty calories" and calories that arrive carrying provisions.
Sukkari vs Other Varieties: Who Wins on Sweetness?
An honest comparison needs two caveats: perceived sweetness is shaped by texture and aroma, and few varieties have sugar data as complete as sukkari's. With those stated:
- Ajwa — Madinah's famous black date is actually known for restrained sweetness, leaning toward raisin and spice notes.
- Medjool — boldly caramel-sweet in jumbo fruit, but denser in texture; many tasters find sukkari's sweetness "cleaner" and lighter.
- Zahedi — semi-dry and the least sweet-reading of the popular varieties; the pick for those who want a date that is not too sweet.
- Safawi & Mabroom — medium sweetness with chewy-dense texture; our dedicated comparison page covers them in full.
The honest verdict: sukkari is on virtually every shortlist for the world's sweetest date, and its data — nearly 100g of invert sugars per 100g dry weight — backs the reputation. Crowning an absolute champion would require uniform measurements across all varieties, which science does not yet have. What is certain: among varieties popular in Indonesia, sukkari is the benchmark for sweetness.
Enjoying the Sweetness Champion Wisely
The data points to one consumption strategy: make sukkari a replacement for sugar and sweet snacks, not an addition on top of them. Patterns we see work for customers: two or three dates beside unsweetened coffee or tea, replacing table sugar and biscuits; two dates before a workout as fast fuel; chopped dates sweetening oatmeal and yogurt instead of syrup; and at iftar, three dates with water before the main meal — energy restored without an aggressive spike. You can also tune perceived sweetness through temperature and texture: chilled rutab reads lighter, room-temperature mufattal reads most intense. One variety, several sweetness levels — pick the one your household prefers.
Sweetness You Can Enjoy Without Guilt
This is why we keep the variety stocked at our Cakung warehouse: the sweetest taste in its class, with a glycemic profile that stays low and nothing added. To taste peak sweetness, try chilled rutab; for the densest hit, choose crystallized mufattal. Both deliver same-day across Jakarta, Bekasi, Depok, Tangerang, and Bogor — just WhatsApp +62 823-4350-8579. (Nutrition content is educational, not a substitute for medical advice.)
