Can I replace the dates called for in my recipe with date syrup?
Dates can act as a binder in a recipe so the first thing to consider is -  does your recipe contain another binder (eggs, applesauce, bananas,  flax eggs, etc.) or does it depend on dates for binding? The date syrup can be used to sweeten almost anything, but the date paste does much better in binding applications because it contains more of the pectin and “stickiness” of the date if you will. For example, dates are incredible to hold raw desserts and other vegan creations together, where date syrup may not play the same magic. Although date syrup would sweeten, it may not hold the ingredients together well. If your recipe is a muffin or cookie that contains a  binder (such as mentioned above), chances are you could replace the dates and use date syrup to provide the sweetening function. Going to try date syrup in your recipe? Great, see next question for how much we recommend per your recipe or check out this article to learn more about substituting dates in your recipes.

How much date syrup should I use to replace a date in my recipe?
Dates come in varying sizes. For example one Medjool date is nearly twice the size of a Deglet date and up to three times the size of a Barhi date! What type of date does your recipe call for? We would recommend that you start by subbing a teaspoon and a half of date syrup per regular sized date (such as a Deglet) or 1 tablespoon of date syrup per Medjool as they are much larger. Learn more here.

Are your products gluten free?

YES! All of our products are completely gluten free!

Are your products vegan?

All of our products are vegan, with the exception of our seasonal fruitcake which does contain eggs. 

Do your products contain any of the common allergens? 

We do not process wheat or any other forms of gluten, dairy, peanuts or shellfish in our main processing kitchen. We do not process tree nuts in our main processing kitchen WITH EXCEPTION of coconut oil and coconut cream. Our seasonal fruitcake does contain pecans and is processed in a separate kitchen from the rest of our products. Our suppliers conform to an allergen free facility or implement very rigorous standards in manufacturing that prevent cross-contamination of allergens.

Are your products kosher?

All of our products are certified kosher.

Who is your Kosher certifier?

Vaad HaKashruth of Kansas City — http://www.vaadkc.org/

Are your products nut free?

We do use coconut cream and coconut oil in our facility. We also produce  a seasonal fruitcake which contains organic pecans. The fruitcake is made in a separate kitchen from the rest of our product line.

How can I use your products in recipes?

This really depends on the type of recipe. For certain items, such as baked goods, you might replace 1 cup of sugar with 3/4 cup Date Syrup and decrease any liquid called for in the recipe by 25%. Really, it just takes some experimenting. We always encourage folks to go to our RECIPES page to get an idea of how it can be used in recipes. We recommend using date sugar to replace the total amount of sugar called for in a recipe. However, since date sugar is made from the whole date and contains fiber, it has a tendency to absorb liquid. We recommend you try decreasing the flour called for in your recipe by 25%. We always encourage folks to go to our recipe page to get an idea of how it can be used. You can also learn how to substitute dates in your recipes by reading this article.

I'm a retail store; who do I contact to sell your product in my store?

info@ilovedatelady.com

Do you sell your product in bulk or as an ingredient?

Yes! Check out our foodservice page for more information.

Why is the color of your original date syrup reddish? 

The color of date syrup is dependent on the variety of dates that are used and the process used to make it. There are hundreds of different varieties of dates grown in the world. Different countries tend to use different varieties for syrup and many countries use quite a lot of different varieties together to produce one syrup. The dates and process we use to produce our original syrup yields a slight reddish tint. Most syrups you find in the US (with the exception of ours) use Medjool which provides a much darker syrup and more of a molasses flavor profile. 

Why is a date company located in Missouri?

We are a family-owned company born and bred in the beautiful Ozarks. At one time however, we lived in the Middle East and became addicted to the good things that flow from the date palm. We’ve been enjoying those things for years now and would pretty much think of ourselves the date aficionados this side of Cali.

It looks like the coconut date sauce I ordered has separated. What should I do?

We take pride in our products and make them with care, using no additives or preservatives. Because of this, it is normal for separation to sometimes occur. If this happens, just stir and enjoy! This product should be refrigerated after opening. Thank you so much for supporting our small business. 

What are the ingredients in your date syrup?

100% organic dates. No additives, no nothin’ else.

Do you make the date syrup yourself?

Our date syrup is imported from our friends who have been making fruit syrup for over 100 years! (It's their jam! :)) We would absolutely love to make it all in the US, but there are some limitations involved. The United States produces less than 2% of the world's dates and because of this, the date cultivar we use to give our syrup the caramel-y, luxurious texture has been hard to source for ingredient purposes. Even the California date farms often import dates to fulfill the demand. The good news is that thousands more acres of date palms have been planted in the US since we started in 2012 and those trees are now starting to bear fruit.

A majority of our products are bottled, labeled and packaged by our own team at our facility in Springfield, Missouri. Many of those products are made from scratch in our large kettles with super sized kitchen tools, and lots of love and muscle! Have you tried our chocolate spread, coconut date sauce, bbq and sweet chili sauce? All made by hand in our kitchen! Our seasonal fruitcake is made from scratch as well in a separate kitchen in our Missouri facility to keep our main processing room free of nuts. 

Do you ship internationally?

Sorry, we do not currently ship internationally! But iHerb.com, which carries some of our products does! 

 

From where are your dates sourced?

We currently source our dates from California, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

 

What kind of dates do you use in your syrup?

We use deglet noor dates in our syrup, making for a smooth, consistent, and rich flavor! 

 

When can I expect my order to arrive?

Please allow 1-2 days for your order to be processed for shipping. We work hard to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. After the order is shipped out and received by the carrier we will update you with a tracking code so you can anticipate the arrival of your Date Lady products! We ship Date Lady products domestically, Monday-Friday. Shipping time is dependent on location.

What if I have an issue with the product?

If for whatever reason you are unhappy with a Date Lady product or we got something wrong, email us at info@ilovedatelady.com and let us know. We will make it right. We are 100% dedicated to your satisfaction.

 
Still have questions?

Ask us at info@ilovedatelady.com