In Malaysia, a dried fruit basket usually shows up around Hari Raya or a wedding — a mix of dates, dried apricots, prunes and nuts arranged in a tray or hamper box. Before buying one for a customer or building one to sell, it's worth knowing what actually goes into a good mix.
Dates are the anchor item in almost every hamper. Ajwa is dark, dense and slightly dry with a mild bitterness; Medjool is soft, large and very sweet, closer to caramel; Safawi sits between the two. A basket that only uses one variety looks repetitive next to one that mixes two or three — buyers notice the difference in colour and size even before they taste anything.
What goes with the dates
Dried apricots and prunes bring a tartness that balances the sweetness of dates, so a hamper heavy on dates alone can taste one-note. Almonds or pistachios add crunch and a different mouthfeel, which is why premium hampers almost always include a nut component rather than dried fruit only.
Weight matters for pricing a hamper honestly. A standard gift box runs 400–600 grams; going much lighter looks stingy for a Raya gift, much heavier pushes the price past what most buyers expect to pay for a single hamper. If you're assembling for resale, weigh each component separately before packing so the final price reflects what's actually inside, not a guess.
Storage before the gifting season matters too. Keep the components in a sealed container away from direct sunlight; dates left in a hot car boot for a delivery run will soften and can start sweating sugar onto the packaging, which looks bad even though the dates themselves are still fine to eat.
For current stock and wholesale pricing across varieties, have a peek at this site before you commit to a hamper run — prices shift closer to the Raya season as demand rises. Our contact page has details if you're sourcing directly from us, and the about us page covers what we stock.