As the world increasingly focuses on recycling and reducing waste, even in the kitchen, it's easy to see the spotlight on recipes that humanity has been preparing for millennia, but which have long remained the prerogative of their own culture. This is the case, for example, of coffee prepared with date seeds: this beverage, not a substitute for classic coffee, but rather an alternative, has become increasingly popular on social media, yet many people don't know that the people of the Middle East have been making it for centuries.
The “coffee” obtained from date seeds, in fact, is an aromatic and spicy drink that belongs to the Berbers, the nomadic populations of the desert who have always used it to prepare it and still continue to appreciate it today for its flavor, but also for its benefits: according to them, in fact, it has many useful properties, particularly those related to digestion.
Obviously, coffee made from date seeds can't be a true substitute for coffee because it doesn't contain caffeine, which means its effects on the body are different. However, if you're looking for an alternative to drinking too much coffee, or are simply curious to try a new beverage, here's how you can make Berber "coffee" from date kernels.
Date Seeds Coffee Characteristics and Benefits
Date seeds coffee is a particular drink belonging to the Middle Eastern tradition, in particular that of the Berbers, which is obtained by roasting and subsequently grinding the seeds found inside dates, a fruit typical of the whole Middle East.
The powder obtained by grinding the seeds is used in two ways: it can be mixed with asskif (a typical barley broth) or it can be mixed with water and drunk like real coffee, although it has a much more aromatic flavor. Of course, even though it's called coffee, this drink contains no caffeine at all, but according to the Berbers, it has many other virtues.
It's primarily considered a powerful digestive aid because date seeds are rich in fiber, which supports intestinal health and, consequently, improves digestion. Date seeds also have other benefits: they're rich in antioxidants, a source of minerals like magnesium and potassium, and also contain a good dose of vitamins, especially those of the B complex.
This means that the Berber drink, in addition to helping the stomach, has a positive effect on the health of cells, is useful for maintaining good health in general and, even without caffeine, is able to give your body a good dose of natural energy.
Can Date Seed Coffee Replace Coffee?
As we've explained, using the word "coffee" to refer to this drink isn't entirely correct: the preparation method is very similar, but date seeds, despite having many other properties, don't contain caffeine. The resulting drink, while intense in flavor and a good energy booster, doesn't have the same stimulating effect as traditional coffee.
If this is what you're looking for in coffee, then the Berber beverage won't be a substitute. However, it can be a good alternative to introduce into your routine for several reasons: first, you know that caffeine, if consumed in excess, can be harmful and cause stomach upset, reflux, and excessive stimulants, so alternating with a similar but caffeine-free beverage can help you reduce your intake.
Particularly if you suffer from conditions that discourage excessive coffee consumption (such as tachycardia or hypertension), coffee made from date seeds is a valid alternative for a drink that resembles coffee; similar to coffee made from lupini beans, a specialty of Anterivo, or other substitutes like barley coffee. Furthermore, this type of coffee is a true recycling recipe, allowing you to enjoy all the goodness of dates—which are also very versatile in the kitchen—and also use the seeds without wasting them.
How to Make Coffee From Date Seeds
Making coffee from date seeds is really easy, especially since you can now find bags of ground date seeds online, making the job even easier. But we want to offer you a truly recycled recipe, so we'll start with whole dates, which you'll clean one at a time, separating the fruit from its pit and removing its skin.
Soak the date seeds for about an hour, dry them, and then let them rest for two days at room temperature. Finally, toast them: you can do this by baking them in the oven for 30-40 minutes at 180-200°C (350-400°F), or in a pan, stirring constantly to prevent them from burning. If you bake them in the oven, they're ready when they turn amber; if you pan-fry them, you'll know they're ready when they make a popping sound, similar to that of popcorn.
At this point, you need to grind your toasted seeds until they're a fine powder that can be stored in airtight containers, just like coffee. To make the drink, pour the powder into boiling water, let it steep, and then strain it before drinking. You can flavor the drink with your favorite spices, such as cinnamon or ginger, or even create your own spice mix to add flavor. Some suggest using the powder in a moka pot, but in this case, dilute the resulting drink with boiling water, otherwise it would be too concentrated.
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