Deglet Nour: why the “queen of dates” loves Tozeur

Deglet Nour means “date of light” in Arabic, and it earns the name: the ripe fruit is amber and translucent, with a soft, honey-like flavour and a slightly dry finish.

It loves heat, long sunny days and cool nights, and it needs water at its roots. The oasis of Tozeur gives it all of that, with palm groves watered by traditional irrigation and shade from the tallest palms.

The harvest happens in autumn. Bunches are cut by hand, then the fruit is sorted, cleaned and packed. Good selection is what separates a great box of dates from an average one.

Tunisia is one of the main exporters of Deglet Nour in the world, and Tozeur is at the heart of that story.