Deuteronomy 8:8 praises the land of Israel for being “a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey.” These agricultural products are known as the “seven species.” On the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shvat, the new year for trees, it is custom to eat the seven species. Tu B’Shvat usually falls around late January or early February.
The seven species are the super foods of the Bible. No modern fad diet holds a candle to this ancient Deuteronomy menu. Packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and the monounsaturated fats, all of our diets could use a healthy injection of each of the Biblical super foods. For the next few months, B’tayavon will be rolling out different recipe options using one or more of the seven species. Stay tuned.
•Wheat (chitah)
•Barley (se’orah)
•Grapes (gefen)
•Figs (te’enah)
•Pomegranates (rimon)
•Olives or olive oil (zayit)
•Dates (tamar)
