Connoisseur Ismail Ngah tasting dates at a stall in Chow Kit. The most famous dates, ‘Ajwa’ from Madinah, cost RM180 per kilo. — NST picture by Rosdan Wahid

Muslims generally break their fast with dates. Prophet Muhammad used to consume all varieties of dates but was said to prefer the variety called Ajwa.

Here, the Ajwa dates imported from Madinah are easily the most expensive variety. It retails at RM180 per kilo or RM2 per piece.

But there are cheaper ones, too, from other parts of the Middle East. Some start as low as RM4 for 100g, said stall owner Che Roziani Mohd Shariff.

Che Roziani, 37, has been in the trade for 14 years, selling 15 types of dates and other items, including apricots, olives and pistachios. These are mostly from the Middle East.

"Customers love the Ajwa because it is soft and juicy. The red and yellow dates from Iran are also favourites," she said.

Some people believe that eating seven pieces of dates every morning can neutralise poison and ward off black magic. Modern science has proven that dates are part of a healthy diet. They contain sugar, fat and proteins, as well as vitamins.

Che Roziani gets many foreign customers because of her stall’s location in the Chow Kit area.

Regular customer Ismail Ngah, 59, said he liked the wide choices and good quality at her stall.

"I come here every year because my family always breaks fast by eating dates. The dates here are the best," said the retiree from Cheras.

Che Roziani said the dates would be available in the first two weeks of Ramadan. She would start selling cookies after that.

Che Roziani also makes hampers filled with dates, kuih raya and cookies. She said the profits were enough "to buy a car".