Fill the kettle and turn it on to boil (use filtered water if available). Once it has boiled let it sit for 5 minutes while preparing the other ingredients.
Pit the dates and place into a glass container.
Add the bi-carb soda. Pour over enough hot water from the kettle to cover the dates.
Set aside the dates for 15 minutes, then drain the dates reserving the drained water.
Place the dates, rice bran syrup, sea salt flakes and vanilla bean paste into TM bowl and mix 10 sec/speed 5.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl then mix 10 sec/speed 5. Repeat this process 4 or 5 times until you achieve a caramel-like consistency. You may need to add 2-3 tbsp of the reserved water.
Taste the caramel and adjust salt if necessary. Store the caramel in the refrigerator until it is cold and the ice cream recipe is ready.
To assemble, take the ice cream out of the freezer to soften for 10 minutes, along with the caramel from the fridge. Layer the caramel in the ice cream using 1/3 ice cream, topped with ½ caramel, followed by 1/3 ice cream, other ½ caramel, then final 1/3 ice cream.
Use a knife to swirl the caramel through the ice cream.
Return ice cream to freezer to set for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.