From pastries to pasta, rice, energy drinks, cosmetics, and even kohl , Emirati innovator Noora Al Mazroui is creating an entire product line from a single item: date pits.The 60-year-old UAE national has made it her mission to prove that no part of the palm tree should go to waste , especially not the stone-like pit found at the heart of every date.“The palm tree begins with a pit and ends with a pit,” Al Mazroui told Khaleej Times.
It started with a question: Why throw the pits away?
Al Mazroui’s journey began decades ago, inspired by her upbringing and her deep connection to nature.In the 1980s, she and her husband received a plot of farmland from the late Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the UAE, as part of a nationwide initiative to allocate land to citizens. There, she began growing palm trees and started questioning why date pits were discarded after eating the fruit, according to Khaleej Times.A mother of eight, she balanced family life with her passion for crafting. In her free time, she made traditional items from palm fronds, such as ‘Sarood’ mats for food, date baskets, and umbrellas. She also began experimenting with ways to repurpose every part of the palm.“In 2004, I participated in the Liwa Date Festival. I wanted to showcase something unique. I made date pickles (Achar), kohl (eyeliner), charcoal, and incense from date pits. I also combined ‘Sarood’ with ‘Talli’ to create new designs,” she told Khaleej Times.
Food, beverages, cosmetics , all from the humble pit
Through years of research and experimentation, Al Mazroui has developed a full suite of products made entirely from date pits:Date pit flour: Used in pastries, pasta, biscuits, crackers, cakes, and even rice.Beverages: She has created coffee, tea, soups, soda, and even energy drinks.“When I sent the drink to the lab, they informed me that it qualifies as an energy drink,” she said.In the personal care space, she also produces:Natural kohl (eyeliner)Body scrubsSkincare products“My work focuses on transforming by-products into food, medicine, care products, and beverages without harming nature,” she explained.She said her mission aligns with the principles of a circular economy, citing inspiration from Sheikh Zayed, who once said:“We focused on farming because we want to live well and rely on ourselves.”“Everything contributes to reducing waste and protecting the environment. It also preserves the legacy of the palm tree. This is not merely a product; it represents progress for our country, land, and future generations,” she said.
How It’s made: A simple yet careful process
Al Mazroui collects date pits from trusted sources, then:
- Washes and boils them
- Dries the pits
- Grinds them in two stages until they become a fine powder
- Sends the powder to a laboratory for safety analysis before packaging
“This powder is sent to a laboratory to ensure its safety before being packaged in sealed containers,” she told Khaleej Times.She stresses that the value lies not just in the process, but in the natural nutrition of the pit itself. According to Al Mazroui, date pits are rich in fibre, minerals, and antioxidants , they aid digestion and contribute to overall body strength.“Making these products benefits the economy by converting waste into useful products. It enhances food safety by providing options sourced from the UAE,” she said.She began with simple tools at home, experimenting with local ingredients, and incorporating date pit flour in small amounts into coffee, pasta, and tea. Each product was sent for lab testing to ensure it met health standards.“I would never offer anything to people unless I knew it was safe,” she said.
Documenting her work, inspiring future generations
As her creations grew more sophisticated, Al Mazroui made sure to document every recipe and process.“I wanted to keep track of it all and maybe share it one day,” she shared.For larger batches required during exhibitions, she partners with factories , as her home-based tools aren’t sufficient for mass production.Looking ahead, she hopes her journey can be an educational model for children, showing how to create food, health, and care products from the land , a combination of heritage, sustainability, and science.