The story
What it is
Khairpur in upper Sindh is the heart of Pakistan’s date country, with groves of palms stretching along the canals. Its best-known variety is Aseel: a medium, soft, deep-brown date with a sweet, caramel taste.
Pakistan is one of the world’s larger date producers, and Aseel dates are exported widely, especially in the weeks before Ramadan.
Where it comes from
Date palms have been grown in the Indus valley since ancient times; date stones have been found at Mohenjo-daro. The Khairpur groves grew under the Talpur rulers of the princely state of Khairpur and expanded with canal irrigation.
