Syrup
Date Dibs
S tier
Date dibs is the Arabic name for the same family of reduced date extract as silan: Gulf, Levant, and North African jars, sometimes a little thinner or more cooked depending on the date variety (deglet, medjool, khalas). Use it as you would silan. The word dibs also covers grape and carob—the fruit on the label matters. Date dibs should smell of dates first.
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Characteristics
Preparations
BreakfastGlazeSweets
Traits
Arabic DibsCooked FruitDate FirstDate Variety MattersGulf LevantKeeping SweetNot Grape DibsReduced Date
History
SA
Arabian and Levantine kitchens reduced dates into dibs as a keeping sweetener.
Date dibs was traded across the Gulf and Levant in tins and skins.
Export date dibs sat beside silan; the fruit name on the pack became the useful distinction.