खारीक · छुहारा
Kharik, chhuhara and dry dates: a simple guide
Kharik (Marathi), chhuhara (Hindi) and kharek (Gujarati) are dates dried until hard. What they are, black vs white kharik, and how Indian homes use them.
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Quick answer
Kharik (Marathi), chhuhara (Hindi) and kharek (Gujarati) are all names for dates that have been dried until they are hard. They keep for a long time and are used in ladoo, milk and festive sweets. Ground into powder, they become date powder.
What is kharik?
Fresh dates are soft and sticky. When dates are dried until they become hard and wrinkled, they are called kharik (खारीक) in Maharashtra, chhuhara (छुहारा) or chuara in the north, and kharek in Gujarat. In English they are simply dry dates or dried dates.
Why kharik is part of Indian kitchens
Kharik keeps for months without a fridge, which is why it became a pantry staple. It goes into dinkache ladoo made for a new mother in Maharashtra, into warm milk for elders, into festive sweets, and it is offered at weddings and in poojas in many communities.
Black kharik vs white kharik
Kharik comes in darker and lighter types depending on the date and how it is dried. Black kharik tastes deeper and richer; white kharik tastes milder. Saanjh makes both into powder: Kala Kharik (black) and Safed Kharik (golden).
Why grind kharik into powder?
Whole kharik is rock-hard. Many elders stop eating it because it is difficult to chew, and soaking it overnight takes planning. Ground fine, the same dates stir straight into a glass of warm milk or a cup of chai.
Questions people ask
Are chhuhara and kharik the same?
Yes. Chhuhara is the Hindi name and kharik is the Marathi name for dates dried until hard. In Gujarati it is called kharek.
How do you eat kharik?
Soak whole kharik in water or milk overnight, chop it into ladoo and sweets, or use kharik powder, which needs no soaking and stirs straight into milk or chai.
What is kharik powder called in English?
Date powder, dates powder or dry dates powder.