The date shake is a beloved beverage made from blending dates, milk or ice cream, and sometimes other ingredients like vanilla or cinnamon. While simple in concept, the date shake has a rich history and cultural significance, especially in Southern California’s Coachella Valley where date shakes originated.
Dates are the key ingredient that gives this drink its unique sweetness. Dates are the fruit of the date palm tree, which has been cultivated for thousands of years. Originating in the Middle East and North Africa, date palms are now grown around the world, but the Coachella Valley’s hot, dry climate is ideal for cultivating them. As date cultivation took off there in the early 20th century, local diners and soda fountains began experimenting with blending the fruit into milkshakes and other drinks. This created a new regional specialty: the Coachella Valley date shake.
What are the origins of the date shake?
The date shake has its roots in the early 20th century Coachella Valley, when dates first began being commercially grown there. The area near Indio, California offered an ideal hot, dry climate for date palms to thrive. In 1900, the United States Department of Agriculture imported date palm shoots from Algeria and Iraq to test growing them in Indio. By 1903, entrepreneurs saw the potential for date farming in the region and established the Coachella Valley’s first commercial date garden.
Date cultivation expanded significantly in the 1920s after the completion of the Coachella Branch of the All-American Canal brought vital irrigation to the arid valley. Soon the Coachella Valley was producing 35 million pounds of dates annually, and was nicknamed the “Arabian Desert.”
The plentiful local dates inspired experiments with date shakes and other date foods. One legend claims that in 1934, early health food pioneer John Garabedian began selling date milkshakes made with raw goat’s milk at his San Bernardino soda fountain. However, the shake’s creation may have happened more organically at multiple venues. Regardless, diners and soda fountains in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and other Coachella cities started offering this new local specialty.
The date shake’s popularity grew through the 1930s and 40s. Soldiers training in the area during World War II became fans, bringing word of the shake back home with them. In the postwar years, date shakes became a roadside stand staple, drawing in snowbirds and other tourists traveling through the desert.
How are traditional date shakes made?
Making a date shake is simpler than you may think. The base ingredients are just a few:
- Dates
- Milk or ice cream
- Vanilla extract or cinnamon (optional)
Traditionally, Medjool dates are used for their large size, soft texture, and robust sweetness. About 12-15 Medjool dates are pitted and blended per shake. For the liquid component, vanilla ice cream, whole milk, or a combination may be used. Ice cream lends thicker, smoother body, while milk allows more of the dates’ flavor to shine. The amounts can be adjusted to taste and thickness preference.
Some versions add a dash of vanilla extract or cinnamon for extra flavor. Otherwise, the dates provide plenty of sweetness on their own, so no added sugar is necessary.
The ingredients are simply blended together until smooth. For best texture, dates are soaked in hot water ahead of time to soften before blending. Professional stands may steam the dates first as well.
Part of the charm of date shakes is their thick, milkshake-like consistency, often needing a spoon to consume. Some versions are lighter and drinkable through a straw, while thicker ones verge on spoonable pudding. Customizing the ratios of dates, milk, and ice cream allows for adaptability.
What are some variations?
While traditional date shakes tend to stick with basic ingredients, some versions incorporate creative twists:
- Nuts: Walnuts, almonds, or pecans add crunch.
- Peanut butter: A swirl of peanut butter contributes nutty richness.
- Fruit: Bananas, strawberries, or cocoa powder offer complementary flavors.
- Spices: Nutmeg, cardamom, or a pinch of salt enhance the shake.
- Liqueur: Adult shakes with Kahlua, rum, bourbon, or brandy make tasty dessert cocktails.
Vegan date shakes swap dairy milk with non-dairy alternatives like almond, coconut, or oat milk. Lower fat versions use frozen yogurt or lowfat milk instead of ice cream.
The date shake’s simplicity lends itself well to customization for different tastes. Part of the nostalgic appeal is enjoying this classic drink just the traditional way. But some enjoy riffing with fun combinations too.
What is the cultural significance of date shakes?
Beyond their great taste, date shakes hold cultural and historic importance in California’s Coachella Valley. For decades they were a signature local treat attracting visitors. Date shakes represent the region’s rich date palm agriculture and its desert oasis towns.
During the heyday of Palm Springs tourism in the mid-20th century, date shakes drew crowds at local diners, soda fountains, and roadside stands. Stars visiting Palm Springs would stop for the refreshing dessert drink. Photos of celebrities sipping shakes provided free publicity.
Road trippers on Route 111 and Highway 86 would plan a detour for a creamy date shake as the perfect rest stop treat. For generations raised in the area, enjoying date shakes brings a sense of nostalgia. They remain a staple at school cafeterias and church festivals.
While dates are now commercially grown in other sunny locales like Arizona and Southern Texas, the Coachella Valley remains strongly linked to date shake culture. Nestled between rugged desert mountains and vast date groves, the communities here retain their status as the date shake capital.
Where can you find authentic date shakes today?
Luckily, many classic establishments still serve excellent date shakes in the Coachella Valley and beyond:
Shields Date Garden, Indio – This roadside stand opened in 1924 and claims to be the first to sell date shakes. Their signature shake comes in original, chocolate, pineapple, and banana versions.
Hadley’s Fruit Orchards, Cabazon – At this family-owned farmstand, their popular date shakes are made from Hadley-grown dates and farm fresh ice cream.
Oasis Date Gardens, Thermal – Enjoy date shakes inside a cool, elegant date palm oasis or packaged to go from their farm store.
Boulevard Dates & Shakes, El Centro – This small shop near the Mexico border has Stayed true to classic date shake recipes since 1976.
Date Shed, Indio – A marquee Coachella Valley restaurant for date shakes and other date dishes made from their own local dates.
Swap Meet Shakes, Indio – Located at the College of the Desert Street Fair & Flea Market, their classic shakes attract legions of fans.
Beyond the Coachella Valley, find authentic shakes at Palm Springs establishments that have branched out like Las Casuelas Nuevas in Riverside and Rancho Mirage. There are also Southern California gems like the Apple Pan in Los Angeles.
Of course, many retro diners, ice cream shops, and farms stands offer their own riffs on the date shake too. But to taste the timeless, original version, the Coachella Valley offers the true vintage experience.
How can you make date shakes at home?
Recreating the nostalgic date shake at home only takes a few simple ingredients. Here is an easy recipe to try:
Traditional Date Shake
Ingredients:
- 12 Medjool dates, pitted
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of cinnamon
Instructions:
- Soak dates in hot water for 10 minutes to soften.
- Drain dates and add to blender.
- Add ice cream, milk, vanilla and cinnamon to blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into glass and enjoy with a spoon or straw!
Feel free to customize with your own twists as well. Swap in almond milk, add peanut butter, use less ice cream for a lighter shake – the options are endless!
Part of the nostalgic fun of date shakes is enjoying the experience of sipping them at a roadside stand or vintage diner. But this home version lets you recreate the classic flavor anytime. Share a round of shakes with family or friends and introduce them to this iconic California treat.
Nutrition Facts
One serving of a traditional date shake (about 1 1/2 cups) contains approximately:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 503 |
| Total Fat | 17g |
| Saturated Fat | 10g |
| Trans Fat | 0.4g |
| Cholesterol | 60mg |
| Sodium | 167mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 79g |
| Dietary Fiber | 5g |
| Sugars | 69g |
| Protein | 9g |
Date shakes are a high calorie treat, with most of the calories coming from carbohydrates and fat. The main sugars are natural milk sugars (lactose) and the fruit sugars from dates.
However, dates are high in potassium, magnesium, copper, and antioxidants. So date shakes provide more nutritional value than many other high calorie desserts. Enjoying them in moderation can be part of a healthy, balanced diet.
Conclusion
The date shake remains an iconic specialty of Southern California, especially the Coachella Valley, where the local abundance of sweet dates inspired this nostalgic treat. It offers the perfect blend of creamy texture and natural sweetness. Beyond just a delicious drink, the date shake represents the region’s rich agricultural heritage and vintage desert culture. Sipping a classic shake at a roadside stand transports you back to an earlier era of leisurely Route 66 road trips and midcentury Palm Springs vacations. Yet annual festivals and new generations of fans show the date shake remains a beloved, enduring tradition.