Date honey, date syrup, date molasses or rub is a thick dark brown, very sweet fruit syrup extracted from dates. It is widely used in North African and Middle Eastern cooking. It is used widely in Libya, usually with asida. It is used in Iran, as a Dip for bread, in pastries, as a topping for Cakes, In Iranian cuisine, date syrup (in Persian: شیره خرما ) is used to sweeten ardeh (tahini), consumed at breakfast. An alternative is grape syrup. Date syrup is rich in the monosacchirides glucose and fructose, and so most of its sugar content is absorbed into the bloodstream in the mouth, meaning that it raises the blood glucose levels more efficiently and immediately than other syrups. It is therefore highly suitable for people suffering from hypoglycaemia, or for those with sucrose intolerance or those with pancreatic problems who have difficulty absorbing disacchirides.[ Date Syrup is higher in magnesium and potassium than some natural sweeteners such as maple syrup and honey and so has been a popular alternative to sugar in recent years.