Basic Introduction to Cele Red Dates
“Cele,” in the Uighur language, means red dates, and Cele County has a long history of large-scale cultivation of red dates. Using the common local drying method, 2.5 kg of fresh dates can be dried into 1 kg of dried dates. Apart from being dried and eaten fresh, they can also be processed into a series of food products such as beverages, date paste, date tea, roasted dates, honey dates, and canned goods, as well as medicinal health products, all of which have unique characteristics and high nutritional value with health benefits.
Nutritional Value
Cele Red Dates contain a large amount of Vitamin C and Vitamin B, as well as essential trace elements and various amino acids, including six kinds of amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize. The average sugar content of their fruit is 37%, reaching up to 42% at its highest, with a high content of dry matter.
Product Characteristics
The dried dates are plump without shriveling, with a bright color, sweet and refreshing taste, and a unique flavor.
Historical and Folk Customs
Cele County has a long history of large-scale cultivation of red dates. However, due to historical reasons, the county's red date resources suffered severe damage, causing the development of the red date planting industry to stagnate for a time in what was once known as the “Ancient City of Red Dates.”
However, because of Cele County's unique geographical location and light-heat resource advantages, as well as the soil conditions suitable for the growth of red dates, along with the practical experience in red date cultivation formed by farmers over a long period, the scale of red date planting in the county has seen significant development. In particular, in recent years, with the deepening of agricultural industrial structure adjustment and the implementation of the “Great Western Development” strategy, leading to increased investment in forestry, Cele County has seized the opportunity and policy support, relying on the broad masses of farmers, to develop characteristic fruit industries on a large scale and actively exploit local resource advantages, bringing the red date planting industry to a new level.
Methods of Making Cele Red Dates
Blood-Nourishing Beauty Congee with Red Dates
Ingredients: Red dates, red beans, black rice, peanuts, white rice, brown sugar
Instructions
1. Clean and soak the red beans, black rice, white rice, and peanuts in water for 40 minutes; wash the red dates and set aside.
2. Pour the soaked red beans, black rice, white rice, peanuts, and red dates into an electric rice cooker, add plenty of water, close the lid, and press the “Porridge” button (about 2.5 hours). If you're not using an electric rice cooker, bring the ingredients to a boil in a regular pot, then partially cover and simmer over low heat for about 50 minutes.
3. After the porridge is cooked, adjust the sweetness with brown sugar or rock sugar before serving. For women, brown sugar is the best choice.