There are many varieties of figs, some are easier to find than others. Mostly around here, I find Black Mission, Brown Turkey and Celeste. My huge fig tree is Black Mission and I a couple of Brown Turkey trees that are producing.
The figs on the left are Black Mission. The fig on the right is a Brown Turkey.
Obviously, the Black Mission figs are way larger than are the Brown Turkey figs. I find that usually the Brown Turkey figs are sweeter, but when I did my taste test yesterday, I found that the Black Missions were as sweet.
When making preserves with Black Mission figs, the syrup ends up being almost a pinkish purple, where preserves made with Brown Turkey figs is a light tan and doesn’t have a lot of color.
I suppose the bottom line is that I never met a fig I didn’t like!
Deborah says
We lived in East TX 50 years ago and started in a rental house. There was a fig tree in the back yard. I’d never eaten a fig – not sure I’d ever even seen one before. An elderly neighbor gave me her recipe for strawberry fig preserves. I remember it used a box of strawberry jello and they tasted just like strawberry preserves – which we were familiar with. We only lived there 2 years but I made our whole extended family tons of those easy and cheap preserves and they all loved them. Thanks for bringing back that memory!
Clara says
Judy—-Could you possibly post the recipe for the fig cake that you mentioned? I think that you said that the cake has fig preserves in it. Thanks!
Gale says
I never met a fig I didn’t love, either. When we made preserves all we added was sugar and a little lemon peel – no syrup. They just cooked down and made their own syrup. They were always so thick and good. Oh, I miss them so much. Even after moving out here to the desert, Joe’s Dad used to send several jars to us every year until he was no longer able to make them. Loved that man so much.
Nann says
We love figs. There was a farm stand somewhat near here that would bring in fresh figs from southern Illinois (which is about as far north as they grow). That place closed and I haven’t seen fresh figs since.
Dar in MO says
I wish there had been a childhood experience with figs, but I had never seen them until I was an adult. Can’t say that I’ve ever tasted fig preserves either, but I haven’t met a preserves or jam that I didn’t like. Those really look like they’d be sweet like raisins. Maybe one day I’ll find some at a Farmer’s Market to try.