If you have ever tasted a date so soft it seemed to dissolve, leaving a clean honey-caramel sweetness behind, there is a good chance it was a Sukkari date. Among hundreds of date cultivars, Sukkari has earned a near-mythical reputation in the Gulf and a fast-growing following in Indonesia. This guide explains what Sukkari dates actually are — the variety, its origin, its forms, and its nutrition — with cited figures rather than marketing claims.
What Are Sukkari Dates?
Sukkari (Arabic: سكري; also spelled sukari) is a cultivar of the date palm Phoenix dactylifera, grown primarily in the Al-Qassim Province of Saudi Arabia. The name comes directly from the Arabic word sukkar, meaning "sugar" — a fitting label for a fruit prized for its honeyed sweetness and golden-to-light-brown skin. Because Gulf royalty and nobility historically favored it, Sukkari picked up the nicknames "royal date" and "queen of dates." It remains one of the softest and sweetest date varieties widely available.
Where Do Sukkari Dates Come From?
Al-Qassim, in central Saudi Arabia, is the heartland. The province holds more than 8 million date palms — the highest count of any Saudi province — across dozens of cultivars, with Sukkari the most celebrated. Two cities anchor the trade: Buraidah, home to a date market often called the world's largest (a roughly 45-day harvest festival), and Unaizah, the "Kingdom of Dates," which runs an international auction season of about 70 days during which 60-69 varieties change hands daily. The hot, dry desert climate and well-drained soil are what give Sukkari its high sugar content and reliable quality.
The Two Main Forms: Rutab and Mufattal
Sukkari is sold in two main forms, and knowing the difference prevents disappointment:
- Rutab (fresh/wet): harvested at the rutab ripening stage with 30-40% moisture. The flesh is luscious and melting, but the high water content means it must stay in a cold chain (0-5°C) and is best treated as a chilled, seasonal product, keeping roughly 1-6 months refrigerated.
- Mufattal / tamr (drier): a drier form in which natural sugar crystallizes on and within the fruit. In Saudi Arabia, mufattal is actually prized and often commands a premium; in Indonesia, those sugar crystals are sometimes mistaken for spoilage, which is a misunderstanding — they are simply natural sugar, not a defect.
| Form | Moisture | Texture | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutab (fresh) | ±30-40% | Soft, melting, juicy | Refrigerate 0-5°C; seasonal |
| Mufattal (drier) | Lower | Chewy, concentrated, sugar crystals | Pantry-stable, no refrigeration needed |
Sukkari Dates Nutrition
Sukkari is, by most accounts, among the sweetest dates — yet its sweetness behaves more gently than table sugar. A 2025 review in Frontiers in Nutrition reports a low glycemic index of 43.4 (the "low" category is anything under 55), with sugars on a dry-weight basis dominated by natural glucose (~51.8 g) and fructose (~47.5 g) per 100 g and very little sucrose (~3.2 g). Date fiber ranges from about 2.1% to 10.2% depending on cultivar and ripeness, and potassium is notably high (reported in the range of roughly 410-1,177 mg per 100 g for dates).
On calories, consumer databases scatter somewhat — reported figures for Sukkari commonly land in the ~270-308 kcal per 100 g range, depending on the brand and moisture level. As a rough rule of thumb, a single date weighs about 15-20 g, so one Sukkari date supplies on the order of 50-70 kcal. This information is educational, not medical advice; if you manage a condition such as diabetes, consult a healthcare professional and monitor your own response.
Why Indonesians and Expats Love It
For Indonesian families, Sukkari is a Ramadan and everyday favorite for its melting sweetness and child-friendly appeal. For expatriates and Gulf-experienced residents in Jakarta, it is often a taste of home — many first encountered fresh Sukkari rutab in Saudi Arabia or the UAE and have been searching for it locally ever since. Returning Hajj and Umrah pilgrims similarly seek it out.
Common Misconceptions to Avoid
Two myths trip up new buyers. First, the sugar crystals on mufattal Sukkari are not mold or spoilage — they are natural sugar that has crystallized as moisture left the fruit, and in Saudi Arabia this form is prized, not discounted. Second, "Sukkari" is a variety, not a brand or a grade; a package can say Sukkari and still vary widely in size and selection, which is why grade labels like A or AA Super matter. Knowing these two facts alone puts you ahead of most casual buyers and helps you judge whether a given lot is genuinely good value.
How to Store Sukkari Dates
Storage depends on the form. Keep fresh rutab refrigerated at 0-5°C and never leave it at tropical room temperature, where it ferments quickly; freeze it airtight for longer keeping. The drier mufattal form is pantry-stable in a sealed container away from heat and strong odors. Whatever the form, dates readily absorb surrounding smells, so keep them away from onions, durian, and other pungent foods.
Where to Get Sukkari Dates in Jakarta
In Jakarta, options range from supermarkets with mixed stock to luxury boutiques. As a direct importer, Sukari Emas stocks Sukkari from the Al-Qassim harvest in several forms — from chilled Fresh Sukkari Rutab (500g and 1kg) to the Unaizah-season AA Super selection and wholesale cartons — with transparent IDR pricing and English-speaking service. For details on buying, prices, and delivery, see our guide on buying Sukkari dates in Jakarta. The aim of this page is simply to make you a more informed Sukkari buyer: a variety this good deserves to be understood, not just eaten.
