Figs with truly unique flavor profiles

[npolaske]

As I acquire more varieties, I'm becoming more interested in figs that have a truly unique flavor profile. The best example of this might be the Black Madeira/Preto "smoky" and "earthy" undertones. After searching some old threads, I've found a few varieties that some claim to have unique "fruity" flavors. I'm hoping some of you can confirm or deny these claims, and also add some of your own observations of unique flavor undertones you have experienced in other varieties.

Sodus Sicilian: carmelized peach

Sangue Dolce: peach

Izbat an Naj: pineapple - banana

[jkuo]

Izbat an Naj does really have hints of banana if you let it ripen enough. If it's not at the really ripe stage, it just tastes like a typical honey fig. At least that's been my experience.

I don't have any other unique tasting figs. If anyone wants to let me sample the other unique varieties, I'll be happy to offer my opinion.

[FloraFig]

Peeked at your stuff you grow document. That's a lot of figs you removed. Usually it's the other way around


Oops..I'm reacting to a 5 year old thread....

[Harborseal]

Flavor is going to depend a lot on growing conditions. Mine don't taste the same here 2 years in a row.

[grasshopper]

Which ones you had that changed flavor based on growing conditions? And how different were the conditions?

[Altadena Mara]

One of the most unusual figs I’ve tasted this year is the Genovese Nero, Rafed’s Version from Harvey. The taste is an intense sweet berry similar to other top berry flavored figs. What’s different is the texture. The center is more liquid with the same intense flavor and bursts in your mouth when you eat it. Quite a surprise. It's a new tree and only produced one ripe fig this year but I'm looking forward to it already for next year.

[npolaske]

I had a few this year for the first time as well and they were just as you describe. It's been a vigorous grower for me as well!

[Sas]

Most of my figs are grown in containers. Some get better fed than others, some get more water than others, some get more sun than others. Judging under these conditions is highly unreliable, but the most outstanding one from day one has been and remains the Col de Dame Blanc UCD. In general, It looks to me like the late ripening varieties of fig tend to have more complex flavors than the early ones.

[Jamie0507]

I totally agree Sas, my CdDB was absolutely amazing! It was also container grown and didn't ripen until mid-late Oct but still it was out of this world delicious! Sooo Definitely a stand out for me too 👍🏼😉

[Sas]

I have two versions of Col de Dame Blanc. The UCD one has been the winner in terms of productivity so far. I have it in ground in full sun and despite all the heat in TX it still ripens in October.
This one could use all the sun you have, but be careful overheating the roots.
The other Col de Dame Blanc from Baud has been a disappointment so far. I only saw one fig from that one in over three years.

[grasshopper]

Do the two versions look alike and taste alike?

[hammerwood]

Hands down the most unique and different tasting fig my wife and I had the pleasure of tasting is the Sumacki. It’s a Middle Eastern fig first introduced by Bass from Trees of Joy. It derives its name Sumacki from the Middle Eastern/Mediterranean spice Sumac. Our young plant gave us one fig last summer. It was supposed to taste like the sumac spice berry which has a lemony tart taste, but that’s not what we tasted. The taste reminded us of something, but neither of us could put our finger on it. It’s not something we taste frequently but still it was not unknown. It tastes like something perhaps you would find in Indian style cooking. My wife thought it would pair well with fresh bitter greens and vinaigrette. Anyway we thought it was very good and we’re hopeful for many more figs next season.

[npolaske]

Thanks very much for this information! This is exactly what I was hoping to learn by posting this.

[Rafaelissimmo]

Planera (MP) is the earthiest tasting fig I've ever tried.

[Rafaelissimmo]

No nothing like Indian food. Its just a hint but kinda like a freshly dug carrot earthy. Its still a sweet, meaty fig with good qualities, a tight eye, no cavity and early ripening being three of them. I am keeping mine and looking forward to future crops. But it is a unique flavor profile that I have confirmed over two seasons.

[drew51]

Thanks for the info, sounds better, I may try it.

[grasshopper]

I thought the typical taste of Planera is juicy sweet, which can be used to describe a lot of fruits. Rafael, now I remember where I read that from - your translation of Pons' book description. So the fig taste you had was definitely different.

[JustJill]

Isn’t a Planera a type of flatworm? Earthy indeed! 😊

[Ficus_Vitae]

I thought that was planarian?

[PBfigs]

You were close. The flatworm is Planaria. Amazing little creatures.

[Terra]

The name turns me off although it is different from the flatworms.
Planaria used to infest my aquarium.
Planarian = singular
Planaria = plural

[livetaswim06]

I would say that the most unique tasting fig I have had is the el Molino. I only got one fig off of the tree but it had something special. My fiancee has been eating figs her whole life from many different countries and she agreed it was different. Different in a really good way though.

[grasshopper]

Raspberry? Was it caprified?

[livetaswim06]

I am almost sure it was caprified. Raspberry would be a good description.

[CliffH]

I would agree with Harborseal's comments above that growing condition and ripeness have a whole lot to do with the flavor of figs. Almost as much as the variety itself.

For example, I had a fig this year that was pure rich berry jam during the dry heat of the summer, then the few figs that I got later in the fall (off the same tree) all tasted very much like a ripe fruity peach (totally surprised me!).

I have had figs this year that tasted strongly of melon, peach, banana, pineapple, and even vanilla. And, of course, like a fig.....


BTW - Love the topic for this tread!

[Pinky]

Which one tasted like vanilla? I love vanilla.

[CliffH]

The variety that went for very berry to very peachy was, strangely enough, MBVS. My most productive and best Mt Enta this year. But if you closed your eyes while eating the few late season figs, you would have sworn you were eating a soft ripe peach.

I have also gotten peach and pineapple flavors from a variant of English Brown Turkey.

The vanilla tasting figs were a real surprise. I posted on them earlier this year. The tree is a local yellow unknown. It was labeled as a "banana" fig, but a lot of yellow figs go by that name down here (and none of them are the true variety of that name).
- https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-h...052#post172052

Again, I feel that flavors have everything to do with where the figs are grown, the weather while ripening, in-ground vs container, and other factors. On the yellow unknown, for example, the less ripe ones were all caramelized suger, while the super ripe one tasted strongly of vanilla (the only time I have tasted this in a fig).

[grasshopper]

Cliff, thanks for the elaboration. 👍 MBVS are well liked. A variant of EBT? sounds like a tropical fruit bowl.

Yeah, I can understand the difference between in ground and in pot effect on the figs or the early, mid, late seasonal difference. I thought it just affect the sugar level but I guess it can also affect the development of flavor profile.

[npolaske]

Does anyone else have any updates on unique flavor profiles from this past year? I was fortunate enough to try several new varieties this year, but nothing stuck out as truly unique to me. I should have the opportunity to taste some of the figs mentioned in this thread next year, so I'll be sure to update with my initial experiences.

[ramv]

I think all (or most) figs are unique if you haven’t tasted that kind.
If all you tasted in your life was Black Madeira, Peters Honey would taste amazing to you. And vice versa.

[ross]

Native D'Argentile was the most unique. Has a tropical berry flavor.

[Bluemalibu]

-ske,

I had two varieties that really stuck out this season, both of which were discussed earlier, but this thread should provide a good single venue to ease our member's time spent researching, should someone opt to add something unique to their orchard.

The first is Montenegro. Its syrupy fig's flavors differ widely one to another; for when chewed, the many individual pedicels of the internal flowers rupture, and provide many unique micro-flavors... giving one fig a strong sour cherry flavor, the next tasting as if one were eating a mouthful of fruit @@@@tail, and other figs may taste plumb-like.

And the other was a gift of nature's winged magicians... Exquisito. It delivers three strong crops of common figs for me, the first of which ripens beginning at the end of July. The first two crops taste like a blended fruity @@@@tail, but it's the third crop that really blows me away... it has a very strong flavor of Banana-Strawberry yogurt.

Many of the seeds that I shared with our members this fall were from this tree. And, this is the cultivar who's fruit morphs from green, to striped violet, and then to blue-black when it's fully ripe. For those wishing to try it in their area, both Steve and I will have clones available in summer.
.
.
.

[grasshopper]

Montenegro is Black Mountain. What does AuNovede Blue mean?

[Pinky]

3 crops? Please put me on your sales list for that one!

[American Infigdel]

I'll second Exquisito as a winner. Got a hint of peach/nectarine off a couple last year. Its covered with baby figs right now, and I'll get my first real crop this year.

[mountainfigs]

Most varieties that do best here have a berry flavor, deep berry or light berry, variously intense, whether fruity or resinous or syrupy or all combined: Mt Etna, RdB, VdB, Florea, LSU Tiger, Nordland, Violet Sepor, Sultane, Figo Preto, and other premier dark/darks and "Adriatics" like White Triana, Paradiso, Calverte, Battaglia.... Consequently, the most "unique flavor profiles" tend to be ones opposite of berry, and/or ones with a sort of minimalist flavor, low on pizzazz but high on succulence. These flavors are often deemed "mild" but are not always and are not to everyone's preference but being so distinct from the berry flavors I appreciate them increasingly: Long Yellow, Lattarula, White Marseilles, LSU Purple, Osborne Prolific, Improved Celeste, Wuhan, San MIro Piro, even Kadota, etc. And in-between flavors like Brooklyn White's berry-honey also stand out to me as unique in a way.

[TigerTom]

I haven't yet had the opportunity to sample a lot of varieties, but here are two that stand out for me:

Earlier this year I got some fresh Calimyrna from the Sac Food Co-Op. They were very juicy (oozing with nectar from the eye), had a sort of honeyed fruit flavor I can't really put my finger on, the skin was chewy and sweet/tart - overall, they were very refreshing. But what got me was the aftertaste reminiscent of cantaloupe.

Since I live in wasp country and my calimyrna cuttings took root, I'm looking forward to what the future holds.

Another fig they get in the summer is some kind of Adriatic-type that is usually so ripe and soft it's a bag of jelly worthy of being spread on toast as it is. It has a definite acidic strawberry jam flavor with a lingering sweetness.

-Tom

[6b figs]

I don’t have tons of experience with figs but Izmir not from fruitnut is amazing. I’ve only eaten 2-3 of them but I swear it’s a flavor roller coster. For me it had a starting flavor, mid flavor and a finishing flavor. It’s the fig in my collection I am looking forward to the most.

[MJFIGS]

Well, based on what I have seen on figbid, there are many new unique fig flavors, only found in California.
Some are even a combination of one or more

Kiwi
Apple
Apricot
Blueberry
Guava
Mango
Raspberries
Skittles
Coffee
Cherry
Melon
Passion Fruits
coconut
Blue Mist


Some of the above might have a hint of fig flavor 😅

[RosyPosy]

Blue Mist?? What does that taste like? ... An ocean breeze... or, refreshing mountain dew? Sounds like a pineappley-coconutty-rummy mixed beverage anyhow 😁

[Bellefleurs]

sacredorigin has many unique tasting figs.
The one that I am most looking forward to is called Bubble Gum.

[MJFIGS]

Thats an easy one. Just hang a few good slices of meat on your trees.

[Bellefleurs]

That is going to be interesting...ha!!
How old/large do Paw Paw trees need to get to flower?

[Txseppe]

Bellefleurs. I've got four grafted Paw Paws, grafted is expected to take 3-4 years. If you get a seedling the estimate is 5-7 years. I'm trying to get a KSU Chappell, apparently that is very vigorous and will produce fruit at the low end of the estimated spectrum.

[RosyPosy]

I haven’t tried one yet, but Sod has described West Student Farm as tasting like buttered popcorn jelly bellies. Trees of Paradise I believe described the taste as sweet cream butter, or something like that.

[drew51]

I have the bubblegum plum Toka. It tastes a touch like bazooka gum. Musk strawberries made into a syrup taste just like cotton candy. I have not heard of the fig? I don’t in general buy figs. I have so many rare ones to trade no fig is beyond my reach for the cost of postage.
Unforunately I have too many now! Keep us updated on these new figs! I will have to cull one to add any.

[sacredorigin]

RosyPosy

Hi there. you have been very supportive of Sacred Origin. I happen to have gotten 2 small cutting of bubble gum a couple days ago. I can share one with you. This mother tree is hard to get cuttings so I wont be offering them on figbid anytime soon...or at least until my mother tree produces enough wood. I would like to send you this cutting... Can i get your address? Please pm....You will love it!... bubble gum and cotton candy flavors.

[Bellefleurs]

You truly are one of the BEST ❤️
My Bubble Gum and Cherry Pie cuttings have leaves!!

[RosyPosy]

sacredorigin 😘😘😘 Thank you!! I have several varieties from you I’m excited about! I hope you keep them coming! The California finds get me every time 😊

[sacredorigin]

Bellefleurs Wonderful! I can't wait for you to get fruit.. please keep us updated. Really looking forward to your children's reviews <3

[ZingsFigs]

Does anyone know if there is a fig with a blackberry flavor??

[drew51]

Thought it was a short hair. One of my friends has had many throughout the years. I like the herding dogs and have 2 Aussies
I liked Jesse so much I bred him and now have his son too.
https://i.postimg.cc/V0gnDH1F/2020-01-22.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/T53gFmnH/Phone-...10-05-1048.jpg

[Bellefleurs]

Another one from sacredorigin- Crema de Mora. Isn't this blackberry cream?

[ZingsFigs]

Bellefleurs I believe you are correct on Crema de Mora I did read that in the description.

[ZingsFigs]

drew51 We live on a farm and our pointer would every morning run over to our neighbors houses and visit them and their Australian Shepard, them come home. It was his morning ritual. There are two houses on 40 acres next to us two sisters and husbands. He would visit one house then the other. We sure do miss him. We have a rescue dog that walked up one day about seven years ago. You could not ask for a better dog. Those are good looking dogs and they are smart. I met a man that breeds Black Angus cattle and he uses them to herd them up. Great dogs

[drew51]

Good stuff thanks for posting! My Aussies are used to keep squirrels and birds away from my fruits. Very easy to train too. Heck Dad (Jesse) taught junior (Jesse's son Chance) how to chase birds for me! Wow it was so easy he is better than his dad now. Not all birds, just robins the main problem here. Sparrows are left alone, yes amazingly smart dogs.

[ZingsFigs]

RosyPosy it was hard letting him go, but he was in pain and I could not see him like that. The tumor grew so fast and really started effecting him. I would love to have another GSH but it will not happen. They are truly loyal and friendly dogs. I am sorry to hear about yours, it really is hard when we lose them.

[ZingsFigs]

drew51 that is too cool