Oasis Date Gardens

59-111 Grapefruit Boulevard, Thermal, CA - (800) 827-8017

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Posted By Eric Freeman on 9/27/2011 4:07:00 PM

Dates are to California what key limes are to Florida. And if you’re looking for the best date shake, you have to visit California’s Coachella Valley. There are many places to enjoy one of these sweet concoctions in the Palm Springs/Indio area, but for my money the tastiest is served up at the Oasis Date Gardens, located on Highway 111 about ten miles northwest of Salton Sea. Surrounded by palm orchards with a shaded grassy picnic area on one side, the name says it all.

Any true date shake is simplicity in itself. It consists of vanilla ice cream, milk, and dates. That’s it! Oasis Date Garden hits a home run with their version. A scoop of pureed dates (their secret blend) is dropped into a cup of soft-serve ice cream, a bit of milk is added, then the mixture is blended until it straddles the line between liquid and solid. The result is so smooth and thick it comes with a spoon, not a straw.

Rich and creamy is too stereotyped a description of this milk shake. The date medley adds a sweet overtone of honey and cinnamon to the vanilla ice cream. Add a sandwich or a bowl of chili from their lunch counter and you’ll be full the rest of the day.

If the weather is nice enjoy this bit of paradise under the palms at the picnic tables; if not, sit in the air conditioned dining area. Oasis Date Gardens sells more than just delicious shakes. There’s date bread, date cake, date cookies, stuffed dates, rolled dates, and more.

Not only are the king of dates, Medjools, sold here, there are over a half a dozen other varieties to taste. Sampling is encouraged. Any of them can be purchased in bulk. Here’s a tip: stop by a restaurant in the area, such as Gramma's Country Kitchen in Banning. Check out the display rack holding brochures for the local attractions; you should find one from the Oasis Date Gardens. There will be a coupon for a free date shake with any $5.00 purchase.

Oasis Date Gardens is open every day except Christmas from 9am to 4pm; the lunch counter closes at 3pm. On Thanksgiving and Easter they close early.

Scorecard

Overall: Excellent - Worth a Detour

Date Shake

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Reviewers Photos [Upload Your Photos]

"The banana in the date shake helped alleviate much of the overwhelming sweetness."
Cliff Strutz

"Eleven pounds of healthy indulgence."
Eric Freeman

"Nature's candy store. Samples are free!"
Eric Freeman

"Nectar of the gods, the Oasis Date Gardens date shake."
Eric Freeman

"Oasis Date Gardens offers several different flavors to mix with your date shake. If you have always wondered what a date/cactus shake would taste like, this is your chance."
Cliff Strutz

"Burlap sacks cover the date clusters. They keep the birds away and catch the fruit as it falls off the tree."
Eric Freeman

"Located in the desert surrounded by palm groves, this place is, well, an oasis."
Eric Freeman

"Raul Medjool, the sheik of Coachella Valley."
Eric Freeman

"A date palm casts its shadow over the picnic area."
Eric Freeman