Ultimate Guide to the Mejhoul Date

Even today, the origin and meaning of the term Mejhoul (also spelled Majhūl, Medjool, Medjoul, or Majhool) remain shrouded in mystery.

The first written mention of this name dates back to the 17th century, in Al-Arabi Mizin's book dedicated to Tafilalet, a southeastern territory of Morocco. During that time, this region, located at the doorstep of the desert, was already renowned for the unique quality of its dates. Traders went to great lengths to transport them along grueling caravan routes to reach Moroccan ports, where they were then shipped to European markets, particularly Spain and England. The date’s rarity, unmatched texture, and flavor make it a truly exceptional delicacy.

Back in the 17th century, the Mejhoul date from Tafilalet was already being heralded as the "pearl of dates", fetching exorbitant prices on the English markets.

Known to humans for centuries, the date palm was nicknamed the "fruit of paradise." It was indispensable to those who embarked on the long caravan routes.

The fame of Tafilalet and its dates heralds back to ancient times. Descending from the High Atlas Mountains, the rivers Draâ and Ziz give rise to fertile groves of date palm, also known as trees of life, as they have been essential to the population for millennia, thriving despite sudden temperature changes and extreme conditions, scorching in summer and sometimes freezing in winter.

Over the centuries, the slow process of selecting the best plants and providing prudent care has led to the production of a particularly juicy date, as generous as it is delicious. Packed with vitamins and minerals and having a high energy value, this fruit of paradise was indispensable to all those who lived off the perilous caravan trade, crossing the deserts of North Africa toward the Persian Gulf, West Africa, or Europe.

In the early 20th century, a devastating epidemic known as Bayoud disease or fusarium wilt threatened the palm groves of Tafilalet with extinction.

In 1927, scientist Walter Swingle made a decision that would change the course of the Mejhoul’s history: he acquired six carefully selected palm tree seedlings from the Boudenib palm grove, known for producing the best Mejhoul dates. He was also offered five young plants. A total of 11 plants were transported to the United States, where they were quarantined until 1936 to ensure their perfect health. Nine of them survived and were replanted at a research station of the US Department of Agriculture in California. The young plants that they propagated were then distributed to American farmers and, starting in the 1960s, introduced to Mexico, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, South Africa, Namibia, and Australia.

The 1990s marked a turning point in the propagation of the Mejhoul variety, with the introduction of the vitroplant (in vitro culture) reproduction technique, which ensures the quality and good health of young shoots. This technological advancement has accelerated the development of production throughout the world and in an increasing number of countries. Mejhoul dates are now the star of dates worldwide.

Today, all Mejhoul dates from major producers around the world are the descendants of the 11 date palms meticulously selected in 1927 in the oasis of Boudnib, located in the Errachidia province of southeastern Morocco.

Errachidia, the original birthplace of the Mejhoul date palm tree, provides the ideal environment for producing exceptional dates that are renowned for their unique flavor and health benefits.

Thanks to the ambitious Green Morocco Plan, launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Agriculture, the date palm groves in the province of Errachidia are experiencing a true renaissance. This action plan pays special tribute to the palm’s unique heritage and aims to rehabilitate it while restructuring and modernizing the production of Moroccan Mejhoul dates.

Near Boudnib, the historical birthplace of the Mejhoul date, stands Medjool Star, the largest date palm farm in Morocco. The Mejhoul date palm’s original soil naturally provides the ideal conditions for the trees’ health and growth.At the Medjool Star Farm, ancestral techniques are combined with the latest scientific innovations and advances to develop the largest integrated production of high-quality Moroccan Mejhoul dates, following sustainable development principles that respect the environment and support local populations.

This renewal is the first step toward achieving the goal set by Medjool Star: to put Morocco, the birthplace of the Mejhoul date, at the forefront of the global production of the Queen of Dates.