Fig Love From The Beginning Of Time
If you ever have a chance to pick a fresh fig off of a tree and bite into it, you will know why this fruit is considered a creation sent from heaven. Sure, the Fig Newtons you grew up give you a taste of figs, but there is no comparison. Figs are fun, full of health benefits and great additions to your kitchen repertoire. Let's take a closer look at these super sweet old world fruits.
What is It?
Figs are the fruit of a ficus tree. They are in season between June and September and most of the figs in the US come from California. There are some European varieties that stay fresh well into November and even the beginning of December. Figs generally have a sweet taste with an almost-silky texture. Their skin is smooth and the little seeds contained within are edible and crunchy.
History
Figs go back to the earliest of times with mentions in many ancient writings, including the Bible. They are believed to have been first cultivated in Egypt and from there, spread to ancient Crete and then subsequently, to ancient Greece, where they became a staple in the diet. In the late 19th century figs came to the US when Spanish missionaries planted fig trees in California. It wasn't until the 20th century that further development and cross-cultivation made California one of the largest producers of figs. Since then, California figs are shipped all over the world and have become a suitable substitute for the European figs.
Health Benefits
Figs have amazing health benefits. For starters, they help lower blood pressure because of their high amounts of potassium. Many diets are too high in sodium and not enough potassium, which increase hypertension. Figs help combat this problem. Figs can also help you lose weight because of the high fiber content. Figs are also very high in calcium, so if you're lactose intolerant, you might want to consider figs as your source of calcium.
Fun Fact
Figs grow on the ficus tree, which most of us have had in our homes at one time or another. It is a member of the Mulberry family. Figs have a unique opening, called the ostiole, or "eye," which is not connected to the tree, but helps the fruit's development by giving it an opening to allow communication with the environment. Going back in time, it is believed that Plato thought the fig was the best nutritional food for athletes. According to legend, it appears that it was against the law to export figs because they wanted to make sure they had the advantage at the Olympic Games.
How to Eat
It is important to wash figs under cool water to make sure you remove any dirt or pesticides, then gently remove the stem. Once you have cleaned the fig, it is time to enjoy either as a raw fruit or stuffed with whatever your imagination desires. Dried figs can simply be eaten, used in a recipe, or simmered for several minutes in water, fruit juice, or wine to make them plump and juicy. Use poached figs in a variety of desserts, perhaps with frozen yogurt or ice cream. Finding ways to incorporate figs into your foods is easy, deciding which dish is your new favorite is probably the hardest decision you will have to make this week.
Figs will soon become your new go-to sweet treat. This heavenly fruit will win you over at the first bite. Give this a try and see what you can do to discover this sweet pleasure.
