What is the unsubstantiated legend about date fruits in the Garden of Eden?

The Date palm is a flowering plant species in the palm family, 'Arecaceae', cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. It is probably the most ancient cultivated tree in the world. It has been cultivated in North Africa and the Middle East for at least 5000 years. The Ancient Egyptians used date fruits to make wine.

It could be safely assumed that the reason for mentioning dates and date palms in the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions was due mainly to the influence of the Prophet Abraham, who was born and raised in the old city of Ur where date palms were grown. Ibrahim’s love of the date and date palm left a lasting influence on these religions.

There is an unsubstantiated legend that the date palm (not the apple tree) was the tree of knowledge of good and evil and that the date (not the apple) was the fruit Eve so generously offered to Adam in the Garden of Eden. If the date palm was the tree of knowledge, Gabriel, the guardian angel, would not have suggested to Adam that he taste and eat the dates.