Bathing with dates

Omani entrepreneurs are making cosmetics and soaps out of dates in addition to value added dates based food products. Adil Humaid al Jamaei's Buthain Soap Selections has come up with bathing bars made of dates syrup and dates.

“We have 16 varieties with themes of honey and dates. But for this exhibition we have chosen four products that are made with dates. We have three soaps here – the dark soap is made from date syrup, as well as the date fruit itself, sweet almond oil, vitamin E oil and coconut oil,” he explained.

The second soap is light coloured and is made of dates, rose water, avocado oil, cardamom as well as its oil, almond oil, pistachio and vitamin e. Everything that ought to be in a dish is applicable for the skin.

“The second soap is ideal for people who have dry skin,” pointed out Adil. “In our third soap we have used date seeds with rose water, sesame oil, sweet almond oil, rose and saffron. The scrub is our fourth product and it consists of dates seeds, date sugar, olive oil and coconut oil,”

Sate fruits is family business for Sumaiya al Zedjali, she works with her parents in the venture called Taraf Dates.

“We sell Omani dates with pride and all our dates are stuffed with premium nuts and dry fruits and we specialize in packages. Packages represent beautiful gifts and hospitality in the best way and we maintain a traditional theme by using palm leaves and ribbons. We also specialize in relevant products made from dates such as pickles, date jam, toffee dates and a variety of Tahini. We have date syrup which is known to be great for the immune system and delicious with different recipes," Sumaiya explained.

A unique attraction is rose Omani coffee packed in a delicate pouch. “Our Omani coffee is flavoured with rose and cardamom. But we also have gift box with date balls and dips and date chocolates with nuts,” she noted.

Adil and Sumaiya are showcasing their products at the exhibition organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources at Oman Avenues Mall. They along with 40 participants are taking turns to be at the event until October 31 in order to maintain the Covid-19 protocol.