What Does Medjool Mean? Origin, Name and Characteristics
The meaning behind the name Medjool, where the variety comes from, how it reached the United States in 1927, and what makes it distinct.
“Medjool” is generally explained as coming from an Arabic word meaning “unknown” (majhool), and the variety is thought to have originated in the Tafilalet region of Morocco. It is a large, soft date, and all Medjool palms in the United States descend from offshoots brought there in 1927.
What the Name Means
A variety profile of the Mejhoul cultivar says the name means “unknown” in Arabic. Spellings vary in the literature, including Medjool, Mejhoul and Majhool.
Where It Comes From
University of California research proposes that the Medjool introduced into California originated from a landrace variety in the Tafilalt district of Morocco, where it was initially selected. The same profile of the cultivar says there is consensus that it comes from the Tafilalet oasis in southern Morocco.
How It Reached the United States
- In 1927, USDA plant specialist Walter Swingle travelled to Morocco, where the Medjool crop was threatened by disease, and brought back 11 offshoots.
- Nine of the 11 survived and became the source of the Medjool dates grown in the United States, according to NPR.
- The offshoots were moved to California’s Coachella Valley, and in 1944 offshoots from the surviving palms were planted in Bard Valley.
What Makes It Distinct
- Size: large. The USDA reference gives about 24 g for one pitted date.
- Texture: soft; it is consumed soft or dry, according to a review of date varieties.
- Nutrition (USDA reference): 277 kcal, 66.5 g sugars and 6.7 g fibre per 100 g.
Medjool and Ajwa
They are different varieties. Ajwa is associated with Madinah and named in hadith; Medjool is not. See Ajwa vs Medjool.
Common Questions
Is Medjool the “king of dates”?
That is a marketing phrase, not a scientific classification.
Are all Medjool dates the same?
Not exactly. University of California researchers have noted variation among plants sold or grown under the Medjool name.
Sources
- UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, “Not all ‘Medjool’ date plants grown in California are the same” (ucanr.edu)
- NPR, “Medjool: A Date To Remember” (2007)
- Mejhoul cultivar origin and distribution (Iraqi date palm network PDF; author and date to be confirmed)
- Świąder K et al. (2020), Postępy Techniki Przetwórstwa Spożywczego 1/2020
- USDA FoodData Central, Dates, medjool (FDC ID 168191)
- Wikipedia, “Medjool” (en.wikipedia.org)
Amira Noor writes about Ajwa dates, their origin in Madinah, nutrition and heritage, with clear, practical guides for readers.