Best Dates in Merzouga — Sahara Oasis Fruit and the Rissani Souk

The palm groves of the Tafilalet, stretching along the Ziz and around Rissani near Merzouga, are among the oldest and largest date oases in Morocco, and dates are the desert's sweetest staple. The varieties grown here are prized nationwide: the plump, dark Mejhoul (Medjool), the soft caramel-sweet Boufeggous, and smaller everyday varieties like Boustammi and Jihl. Dates are not just a snack but a source of energy, hospitality and trade, offered to every guest as the first gesture of welcome across the Sahara.

The great place to buy is the souk at Rissani, the old caravan and market town a short drive from Merzouga, whose date market is one of the best in the country. Dates are sold loose in vast pyramids, graded by variety and quality, and buying them is a tasting experience — sample across the varieties, compare textures and sweetness, and haggle by the kilo. The finest Mejhoul fetch premium prices; everyday dates are cheap and abundant, sold by the sackful to desert families.

In the desert kitchens around Merzouga, dates run through the cooking too: chopped into slow tagines with lamb for a sweet-savoury depth, folded into sweets and pastries, blended with milk, and always served alongside mint tea. Autumn is harvest time, when the palms hang heavy and the markets brim with the new crop, and it is the best season to see the full range.

To buy well, visit the Rissani souk (busiest on its market days), taste across varieties before committing, and ask for the names so you learn what you like. A guided trip taking in the Rissani date souk and the oases is a rich desert food experience — message us on WhatsApp at wa.me/212701664704 or call +212 701 664 704 to arrange one.