There are more than 250 varieties of figs on the island which are now a sweet delicacy and not only just picked from the tree.
Ficus carica – the real fig – is one of the oldest crop plants, which is cultivated and appreciated throughout the whole Mediterranean region. Also on the island the roundish fruit is known as one of the most famous fruits, which is sweetening up the ending summer. Depending on its type, the fig is either light green until dark violet and on the inside always juicily red. Majorca has the ideal climate for the fig tree, which needs warm summers and mild winters. The trees do not have to be watered and therefore they also grow on dry grounds. No wonder that fig trees together with almond, olive and carob trees are characterising the landscape. Fig trees can become until 100 years old. In summer, they have thick green leaves and in winter they are leafless.
Thank the wasp
Hardly to believe that there are 251 local fig species and each village has its own. Every time when a successful new species was cultivated out of a wild one, a new name was given to it, preferably a woman’s name. There is a differentiation between the blue and the green fig, as well as between those being early and late species. There are male and female fruits. The blossom, which is at the same time the fruit, is being pollinated by a wasp which is specialized on figs. The blue figs are ripe at first and harvested in august. While the green ones are only being harvested in November. A fig tree can be harvested every now and then, since the fruits have different maturing times. A fig is ready to be harvested when it feels soft and taut at the same time. At this point, the fruits are so sweet and red that it seems like the sun was stored inside of it. Figs perish quickly and should not be held longer than three days in the fridge.
From fig bread and chocolate figs
Typical for Majorca is the fig bread out of dried fruits with almonds and spices like cinnamon, cloves and anise. Fruits dried under the Majorcan sun are a very popular and healthy snack. Also, figs marmalade or desserts like fig ice cream or chocolate covered figs are a real delicacy. There is also fig liquor, fig syrup, balsamico or chutney. But figs are often also combined with salty dishes. The star cook Macarena de Castro from the restaurant “Jardín” in Port d’Alcudia is recommending the combination of figs with the aroma of cheese (especially blue cheese), serrano-ham, lamb, chicken, duck, smoked meat, port wine and nuts. You can also roast and grind the fruits to receive fig coffee.
Healthy for people and animals
Figs are very healthy and a source for calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphor and iron. Furthermore, they are rich in vitamin B1. Also, dried figs are rich in minerals and offer besides calcium and magnesium also copper and zinc. Thanks to the little seeds, the fruit has a slight laxative effect. Figs have a lot of fruit sugar and they are quite rich in calories. This is the reason, why they are also used as animal feed in Majorca.
Fruit of wisdom
In antique times, the fig was seen as a nutrition for philosophers, a dish of wisdom. The fig tree came from Asia through the Phoenician, the Hebrews and the Greeks to the western world. Especially, Arabs who cultivated the fruit in the Mediterranean region, left some traces on the island.
A leading export hit
From the 14th century on, figs had an economic importance. In 1769, the Majorcan Franciscans took the first fig tree to California when they build up the missionary station in San Diego. Until today the commercial grade “Franciscana” plays an important role. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, the fig tree reached its peak on the island. Still in the last century, Majorca exported annually more than 57 million tons of dried figs per year. Today Turkey is the leading exporter of figs.
Majorca’s fig king
Nevertheless, Majorca still has a “fig king“: At Finca “Son Mut Nou” close to Llucmajor the pharmacist Montserrat Pons i Boscana takes care of 1.700 fig trees and 800 different varieties from 60 different countries. The fig expert has not only the biggest private collection of fig trees worldwide, he also protected 31 other varieties from being genetically extinguished by reviving them.
Gratinated figs with ricotta and roasted pine nuts
The sweet fruit can be combined with sweet and salty. Our recipe of the month combines the fig skilfully with ricotta cheese.
Ingredients
6 Figs
250 g Ricotta cheese
2 Tea spoon pine nuts
200 ml Red wine
1 Tea spoon honey
Some fresh thyme
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Preparation
Mix the red wine and the honey in a bowl. Subsequently, cut the thyme small and add it to the ricotta cheese. The oil, pepper and salt are being added to the cream and mixed. Cut the figs now into half and place one spoon of the cream on top of it. Put the figs on and bake-proof plate and bake them at 180 degrees until they get slightly brown. For a special taste roast the pine nuts in olive oil until they get golden yellow.
We wish you a lot of fun cooking and enjoy your meal!
