Fun Facts
- Figs are considered as one of the oldest fruits.
- They have a sweet nutty taste and a soft chewy texture.
- Figs are not really fruits, they are flowers which are turned inside out! Inside the fruit are hundreds of tiny little flowers which are sweet and edible.
- This purple skin can be eaten, as well as the inside, but don’t forget to wash them first to make sure that they are clean.
- The skin of a fig can be purple, brown, green or yellow.
Where do we come from?
Figs were first grown in Eastern Turkey and across Northern India but they are mentioned throughout the history books as one of the oldest fruits. Both the Greeks and the Spartans are said to have eaten figs as one of their main sources of food.
Today, figs grow best in warm climates in many places across the world. Most of the figs that end up in supermarkets are grown in Italy, Turkey, Algeria, Greece, Portugal or Spain.
It has become very popular to try and grow figs in pots at home. If you have a greenhouse in the garden why don’t you give this a try? Make sure you let us know how you get on!
Test yourself! Can you locate all of these countries on the map?
I am good for you!
Like all fruits and vegetables, figs are low in sodium, calories and fat and it is also a good source of dietary fibre. But figs are especially good for you because …
- Figs are one of the best plant sources of calcium, which is good for your bones, muscles and blood functions.
Struggling to find fresh figs?
Sometimes fresh figs can be difficult to find in the supermarket, but dried figs are just as delicious, and they are normally in stores all year round! We recommend having them with ice cream or Greek yoghurt as a treat after dinner.
Did you know …
… Fig trees are a recurring theme in religion. Here are a few examples of where they are mentioned:
- Figs are the first fruit tree mentioned in the Bible, and some people believe it was the forbidden fruit in the Graden of Eden.
- Buddha received enlightenment under a fig tree.
- Islam considers figs to be holy.
- Hindus and Jains also consider a specific Asian species of fig to be sacred.
Get Cooking! Fig Jam
This is delicious, quick and simple to make. Click here for the recipe.
