What do figs taste like?

Figs are a highly coveted fruit and are often served with unique and wonderful pairings. Figs look quite different from other fruits. They have deep, rich colors and small seeds in the center.

And what do figs taste like?

Figs have a very sweet, honey-like flavor, which makes them great for use in desserts or to add a sweeter dimension to a dish. Its texture is soft and, together with its sweet flavor, they are an exquisite complement to any dish or meal.

Read on to find out why figs are so prized, what they taste like, and more about this elegant fruit.

What are figs?

In the first place, to understand why figs taste the way they do, it helps to know exactly what figs are.

So what are figs?

Actually, figs are not classified as a fruit , but rather as a flower. The edible part of the fig is actually the fleshy base of the flower, and the tiny seeds are the tiny florets of the flower.

They have been cultivated for centuries, and are native to the Mediterranean and the Middle East. They grow best in dry, sunny locations, and can be eaten fresh, dried, or made into a delicious jam.

The exterior of a fig is deep purple in color and is almost velvety to the touch. The inside of a fig is dark pink, filled with tiny seeds.  Figs are shaped like a round raindrop, and both the skin and the pulp of the figs are edible.

There are several types of figs that are grown, and some are sweeter than others, and others are more suitable for certain foods.

What do fresh figs taste like?

Figs are one of the fruits that taste as good as they smell. Although there are different varieties of cultivated figs, most maintain the same basic flavor and texture.

All figs are deliciously sweet, with a slight honey and nutty flavor, and have soft, moist flesh.

The inside of a fig is quite difficult to describe, but it is pulpy and gelatinous, but not dripping with juices, while remaining moist. A delicious bite is obtained with the small seeds that crunch when eaten.

Here are the most common types of figs, and what their unique flavors are:

adriatic figs

Adriatic figs are easy to distinguish from the others. They are light green or pale yellow in color and are sometimes called “white figs.”

The interior of Adriatic figs is deep pink or bright red, and they taste very sweet, more so than all other types.

This is in addition to their other name of “candy-striped figs”, given to them when their skin is striped with white and green.

Due to their super-sweet taste, these figs are popularly added to desserts or served as-is with some mascarpone cheese.

If you are looking for the sweetest figs, Adriatic figs are the best!

Black Mission Figs

Black Mission figs are another super sweet variety, and sometimes even have a delicious sweet syrup oozing out of them.

These figs get their name from their very deep purple color, which is quite shocking . The interior is a beautiful pink color, which has a delicious sweetness that is great to add to natural yogurt or fresh cheese, such as mascarpone or ricotta.

It is best to serve them cut in half or whole, and placed on a cheese tray or with some soft cheese or yogurt.

brown turkey figs

Brown turkey figs are brownish-purple on the outside and have pale pink flesh.  These figs are not as sweet as other figs and have a more subtle flavor than sweeter figs.

These less sweet flavors make Brown Turkey Figs great for serving in salads, where they offer a slight sweetness without being too overpowering.

You can also drizzle a little honey over the Brown Turkey figs to give them a little more sweetness. They are a good choice for making fig jam, as you can add sugar to create a sweeter flavor, while still having a more subtle sweet taste.

Calimyrna Figs

Calimyrna figs are quite large and have golden-green skin. Its flesh is a bright pink that contrasts with the pale exterior. These figs are popularly served sliced and as is because they are so pretty.

Calimyrna figs have a stronger nutty flavor than most other figs , and this nutty flavor makes Calimyrna figs a good pairing in charcuterie trays.

You can even put them on the grill for a while and serve them for dessert.

Kadota Figs

Kadota figs are light green in color with pale flesh and are not as sweet as the other fig options. They are good to eat raw and have a very mild flavor compared to the other varieties of figs. 

Due to their mild flavor, they are best served cooked with something or used to make preserves or jams where sweeteners and other flavors can be added.

For Kadota figs that aren’t quite as sweet, you can always sprinkle a little salt on top to bring out their sweetness a bit more.

They’re also a good choice to add to salads , as they hold up well in dressings and don’t overpower the salad with too much sweetness.

They are also a good garnish for pizza.

What do dried figs taste like?

Although dried figs retain much of the flavor of fresh figs, there is a big difference between them.

If you decide to use figs for a certain meal or recipe, understanding the difference will help you decide whether to use them dried or fresh.

Dried figs taste quite similar to fresh figs, and it will also depend on the type of fig used to make the dried fig.  In general, they are quite sweet and with a more pronounced flavor.

The biggest difference when eating dried figs is the difference in texture. Dried figs are obviously dried, and do not have the soft, juicy flesh of fresh figs. This means they are drier and chewier, but still quite soft.

Because the honey syrup from a fresh fig is absorbed into the flesh as it dries, dried figs have a slightly more concentrated flavor , but with less moisture and a less syrupy texture.

They are still delicious and still work great as a topping on yogurt or dessert, or served with cheese.

How to tell if a fig is ripe and ready to eat

It’s important to make sure a fig is ripe before cutting it, as it will have the best flavor and texture when ripe.

There are several ways to determine if a fig is ripe or not:

Aspect

You should be able to tell if a fig is ripe just by looking at it. If the fig has a greenish tinge, it is probably not ripe. 

This will depend on the type of fig as some are pale green/golden in color but if it is a bright green look then you will have to wait a bit longer.

For darker figs, wait until the fig darkens to a purple/brown color.

Ripe figs are also usually larger than immature figs, and you can check this by picking them up at the grocery store, or picking them off the tree. More mature figs will hang lower than immature ones as they are heavier.

touch

Ripe figs are usually soft to the touch. This is because they have become moist inside, and this makes them slightly soft when touched.

Immature figs are tougher , since the juices or syrups have not yet developed. You only have to gently touch a fig to determine its ripeness, and pricking it too hard could damage it.

Test

If you’re not quite sure if a fig is ripe by looking at its color or gently touching it, you can try it.  Ripe figs are soft and sweet, while immature figs do not have a great flavor.

You should be able to determine ripeness with a single bite. The only problem is that you have already cut the fig into slices.

Store sliced immature figs in the fridge , covered with some plastic wrap or in an airtight container, until ripe, making sure they don’t spoil.

How are fresh figs stored?

Figs tend to go bad and rancid pretty quickly under the best of circumstances, so storing them properly is really important if you want to be able to enjoy your figs before they go bad.

These delicate fruits can be stored in various ways, depending on what you want to use them for.

Some people choose to freeze their figs by simply placing the figs in a resealable plastic freezer bag, squeezing out the air, and placing the figs in the freezer. This helps prolong the life of the figs by at least 2-3 weeks.

You can also store figs in the fridge, and this will add 1-2 days to their shelf life, but check that they haven’t gone rancid before you start eating them.

Another way to preserve figs is to dry them. You can make this at home using a food dehydrator, or buy dried figs at the store. Dried figs keep much longer than fresh ones.

Sometimes you can find canned figs at the store. Obviously, they last much longer.

How do I know if a fig has gone bad?

It’s fairly easy to tell if a fig has gone bad. The best way is to smell the fig.  A bad fig will have an unpleasant, sour and rancid smell . If you perceive any indication of these, throw away the fig.

Another way to check if a fig has gone bad is to look at it and feel it. If the physical appearance is not adequate, or the fig is very soft to the touch, it is most likely spoiled and should be thrown away.

Ways to use figs

Figs, while super sweet, can be used in many different ways, working in both sweet and savory dishes.

Here are some of the best combinations to use figs, either serving them fresh or cooking them in a meal:

• Figs go great with cured cheeses. One of the most popular cheeses paired with figs is blue cheese, as its saltiness and strong flavor pair well with the sweetness of the fig.
• Cured meats are often served with figs , such as bacon and ham.
• Cooked figs go very well with olives , capers and garlic.
• To serve a drink alongside figs, you should opt for fortified wines and dark spirits , such as port, sherry, or rum.
• Full- bodied types of vinegar , such as sherry or balsamic, should be served with the figs.
• Rich dairy products , such as mascarpone, crème fraiche, and heavy cream, go very well with fresh figs. Figs are also a good topping for plain yogurt.
• Warmer spices , such as cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise, complement figs well.
• Citrus fruits , such as orange and lemon, are good complements to figs.

A good tip is to keep the knife wet with a little warm water when cutting the figs, as the syrup can be a bit sticky.

Are figs good for you?

Figs are high in natural sugars, soluble fiber and minerals. These minerals include calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and copper.

They also contain a good amount of antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamins K and A, which are always good to include in your diet.

Dried figs are also a good source of fiber, slightly more than fresh figs.

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over the delicious taste of figs, we’re going to answer some related questions that we think you may have had while reading this article.

Can you eat the skin of a fig?

All parts of a fig are edible, including the pink flesh and purple skin . However, some people prefer to peel the skin before eating it.

The best way to enjoy a fig is to pick it off the tree and eat it whole, skin included, while it is still slightly warm from the sun. It is the best way to enjoy its sweet flavors and its incredible freshness.

Are figs vegan?

Although they are called a fruit, figs are not considered vegan. This is because each fig has a dead wasp inside. This is because the figs depend on wasps to reproduce, and each one contains a dead wasp.

However, the fig digests the wasp and you will not find a dead wasp when you cut into your fig.

Some vegans don’t mind eating figs, as the wasp died of natural causes, and was not killed as part of cruel farming.

Do figs taste like raisins?

Figs taste slightly like raisins, but are slightly sweeter and have a more honey and nutty flavor. If you like raisins and dates, you should try a fig!