{
  "id": 476688,
  "title": "Rutab is having a moment this summer — and it’s showing up in your coffee, matcha and desserts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/rutab-is-having-a-moment-this-summer-and-its-showing-up-in-your",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-10T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/rutab-is-having-a-moment-this-summer-and-its-showing-up-in-your-coffee-matcha-and-desserts-1.500636015"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Summer in the UAE is marked by the arrival of Rutab, a delicacy made from half-ripe dates. For many, Rutab season is a nostalgic tradition, a sign that summer has truly arrived. However, this year the fruit is being reimagined beyond the fruit bowl. It is being incorporated into iced drinks, matcha, coffee, and desserts, becoming a modern twist on a familiar ingredient.\n\nRutab's subtle sweetness and caramel-like flavor are particularly well-suited to café-style beverages. The soft fruit complements popular drinks like matcha, cloud coconut water, and latte, creating a modern twist that still maintains the essence of the original recipe. Como Lounge, an Emirati specialty coffee café, has taken this trend to heart, creating drinks like the Rutab Matcha, Rutab Cloudy Coconut Water, and Rutab Latte.\n\nThe Rutab Matcha, in particular, has become a favorite among patrons. This drink blends the earthy bitterness of premium matcha with the natural sweetness of fresh Rutab, resulting in a harmonious flavor profile. Other options include the lighter Rutab Cloudy Coconut Water and the richer Rutab Latte. The goal of these creations is to give customers a familiar drink with a unique seasonal twist that celebrates Emirati culture in a contemporary way.\n\nBeyond being a food trend, Rutab's appeal lies in its connection to the Emirati lifestyle. The fruit is locally grown and deeply rooted in the culture of the UAE. Its seasonal nature creates a sense of urgency, driving people to seek it out while it is available. At the same time, its cultural significance makes its presence on a modern menu feel less like a gimmick and more like a continuation of something that has always existed.",
  "summary": "A taste of summer There are some flavours that simply taste like summer in the UAE. Rutab (aka fresh, half-ripe dates) is one of them. For many, the arrival of rutab season is less about discovering something new and more about returning to something familiar. The soft, golden fruit of the date palm appears on tables, gets shared between family and friends, and becomes one of those small seasonal…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}