Date Varieties
Sukkari Dates: What They Are and What We Know
Sukkari is one of the best-known Saudi date varieties, prized for its soft, caramel-like sweetness. Here’s what’s actually documented about its origin, composition and how it compares with Ajwa and Medjool.
Sukkari (also spelled Sukkary or Sukari) is a popular Saudi date variety, described as a famous cultivar of the Qassim region. A table in a 2021 review gives it a glycaemic index of about 43. We did not find a verified USDA nutrition entry, so calories and sugar per 100 g are not given here.
1.Origin
A study of Madinah date cultivars notes Sukari among the famous cultivars of Saudi Arabia and associates it with the Qassim region. Sukkari is also grown elsewhere and sold under spelling variants, including Sukkary and Sukari.
2.What Research Reports
- Glycaemic index: 43.4 (±4.7) for Sukkary in a table of Saudi varieties compiled in the Mirghani 2021 review. Glycaemic index depends on the test and the sample; it does not replace portion control.
- Moisture: Sukkary had the highest moisture among Sukkary, Medjool and Safawi in a 2023 study, and all three were classed semi-soft.
- Oligosaccharides: Sukari had the highest oligosaccharide concentration (3.37 g/100 g dry weight) among the Saudi varieties in a 2024 study.
These are laboratory measurements of specific samples in published studies, not large-scale testing of every Sukkari date sold commercially. Results can vary with growing region, ripeness stage and processing.
3.Nutrition
For orientation only, the USDA reference for Medjool is 277 kcal and 66.5 g sugars per 100 g. Sukkari values will differ, so check your product’s label rather than relying on Medjool figures. See Are Sukkari dates healthy? for a fuller look at the health question.
4.How It Compares
| Sukkari | Ajwa | Medjool | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named in hadith | No narration found | Yes | No |
| Glycaemic index data | 43.4 in one table | Not verified | Not verified here |
| USDA entry | Not found | Not found | Yes |
See Ajwa vs Medjool and Ajwa dates in Islam for fuller detail on each comparison point.
5.Common Questions
Are Sukkari dates good for diabetes?
A lower glycaemic index in one table does not make any date safe for everyone. See Ajwa dates and diabetes for how to think about dates and blood sugar, and speak to your care team.
Why are they called Sukkari?
We did not find a sourced explanation of the name, so we do not state one here.
Sources
- Mirghani HO. “Glycemic index of common Saudi foods and sweeteners.” Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(4):1230-1236.
- Alaida MF, Aldhebiani AY. BMC Plant Biology 2022;22:461 (cultivars of Al-Madinah).
- Gels 2023 study of Safawi, Sukkary and Medjool dates (PMC10297890).
- Jaouhari Y et al. Molecules. 2024;29(19):4606.