TorontoJoe
Administrator
Casalore --- Banana Tropical Berry
What's the story behind this one?
What's the story behind this one?
What are your favorite unique flavored figs?
- Thread starter FIGSinGA
- Start date
LaFigGwr18
Well-known member
Strawberry jam? Wow, I have mainly gotten a little berry flavor. IAM still looking for that definite deep, rich strawberry flavor. Not from this one cause I don't have this one but I will have to keep an eye out for it now. Thank you
Kid Fig
Well-known member
Sure no problem!
Here's my post about RS:
Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce Rionon Santana : a new CA Seedling.
I found this plant at a dried up riverbed a few miles from my location over 2 1/2 years ago (roughly) and I was banking on luck that it was a fig tree.
After getting down and breaking off a few branches I manage to get one "cutting" to start growing and after a couple of years of pure growth; never showing me a swollen bud or anything - just a cool looking leaf pattern plant that was probably some wild tree (since it never showed me figs - breba or main crop).
I gotta say I was surprised! I couldn't believe I actually got me a decent fig with the odds against finding a good to great fig.
Ok now onto the description...
It had a slight figgy smell to it as well a a faint sweetness - so I took it as a good sign.
It was jelly soft on the tree; but I actually had to put a little muscle to snap it off - It was like a little speed bag when I was flicking it.
It managed to develope a crack that went almost around the entire fig and had a small to medium eye, which the other ones had small to tight eyes.
Here's when I felt like I struck gold, so as soon as it was cutting time, I place the fig down onto the cutting board and when I began to cut it the skin (although thin) didnt want to split so easy and when I gripped it - juice ran out!
I was like - tell me it didn't spoil; so when I proceeded to cut it, more came out! Then I decided - screw it and dipped my finger into the slightly pinkish clear liquid and didnt smell any kind of rot, I tasted it.
It was sugar water ! I couldn't believe it! My fingers became as sticky as syrup when it dried and now it was time for the taste.
This thing was very sweet - super juicy; again despite being wrinkly with a notes of honey, syrup (caramel-ish?) and had slight notes of melon and mango (the last breba I tasted had a more pronounced mango flavor to it).
This is describing the first 5 pics (same fig) - the others did not produce the sugar water but were just as sweet and sticky.
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Kid Fig
Well-known member
Well even though it's not described as having these flavors I tasted hints of banana along with pineapple and berry tones.
I believe the banana flavor I found was in the skin or inner syconium - I guess it might fall into the Complex category but it's seems complex only in the different flavors it had (instead of complex as in indescribable).
Black Tuscan had a Strawberry Cherry Raspberry Blackberry flavor that impressed the hell outta me when I was able to ID all 4 flavors within!
Kid Fig
Well-known member
I was impressed by JHA - for some reason I thought there were waaay better Adriatics than JHA (without ever having tasted one) and I also sampled it during mid-Fall so I think you're correct that it does better outside of the summertime.
Figgin' A
Well-known member
#1 search result from Google search for 'Tropical Berry':
Tropical Berry is a hybrid weed strain made from a genetic cross between OG Kush and an unknown parent strain. This strain is 40% sativa and 60% indica.
The story behind that one is getting more interesting...
LaFigGwr18
Well-known member
Thank you for your input. Do you know if it's a common fig?
Kid Fig
Well-known member
Yes -I did a seed sink test with fig #3 (last 2 pics on the previous post) and all seeds floated.
The first fig (5 pics) on the previous post could have been caprified based on the sugar water but unfortunately I didn't do a seed sink test on it.
Below is the aforementioned fig #3 test pics:
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LaFigGwr18
Well-known member
DallasFigShop
Well-known member
Izbat An Naj and Corynth both offer a twist on the Honey fig. Mind you mine were first year figs and matched reports that they don't ripen well in this climate but the Corynth that did, were like Honey Mocha, the Izbat like Tropical Honey and in a way that compliments the Corynth. Standouts flavor wise for sure.
Unfortunatly their texture was spongy
I will still try them in ground if they are similar in year 2 or 3...and ripened in larger pots if you have a slightly cooler climate than Dallas then don't miss out
I also had a fig labeled I258 that was as sweet as a Madeira Island Black fig or a properly ripened VDB... it's maybe i258-NOT.. but the first year flavor was like a floral potpourri it was like a billionaires bathroom experience is all I can come up with... Hopefully I can figure out what it is... dosent seem to match i258 but the leaves look similarly tri lobed.. or maybe first year fluke m. They didnt fruit this year...three others from the same cuttings all had matching leaves but 3 or 4 different figs, one a yellow honey fig ...
Honorable mention to VDB it's the best combination of berry flavors I've tasted and that lingers longer than others plus the intense sweetness that just sticks to the taste buds... if you just forget about it and find them ripe and shriveled, greatness.. I did actually have the same effect with one of my Chicsgo Hardy plants it was almost there, maybe timing and condensed flavors but way above alot in the same category
Unfortunatly their texture was spongy
I will still try them in ground if they are similar in year 2 or 3...and ripened in larger pots if you have a slightly cooler climate than Dallas then don't miss out
I also had a fig labeled I258 that was as sweet as a Madeira Island Black fig or a properly ripened VDB... it's maybe i258-NOT.. but the first year flavor was like a floral potpourri it was like a billionaires bathroom experience is all I can come up with... Hopefully I can figure out what it is... dosent seem to match i258 but the leaves look similarly tri lobed.. or maybe first year fluke m. They didnt fruit this year...three others from the same cuttings all had matching leaves but 3 or 4 different figs, one a yellow honey fig ...
Honorable mention to VDB it's the best combination of berry flavors I've tasted and that lingers longer than others plus the intense sweetness that just sticks to the taste buds... if you just forget about it and find them ripe and shriveled, greatness.. I did actually have the same effect with one of my Chicsgo Hardy plants it was almost there, maybe timing and condensed flavors but way above alot in the same category
Flomaton Famous
Member
The one that got my attention this year was, Madeliene Des Deux Saisons. Prolific, Nice large, and had a flavor unlike my others. I kept looking forward to this one with every trip to the orchard.
richbbfigs
Active member
can you tell me more about the seed sink test? I searched this forum and then google and still don't know much. google has lots of seed sink test info, but not fig specific. any links would also be great. thanks!
TorontoJoe
Administrator
The fig seed sink test is a way to determine which fig seeds are viable and can be used to grow a fig tree from seed. The test involves placing fig seeds in water and observing which ones sink to the bottom.
Viable seeds sink because they have absorbed moisture and are ready to germinate. Non-viable seeds float because they are hollow and lack the carbohydrates and starch needed for germination
Note that a viable seed does not mean it will produce a plant that will produce figs... or figs that are parthenocarpic... just that they are viable....
This is a deep rabbit hole. We can expand if you're interested. I think it's worth it's own thread.... you're correct that we should have this as an easy to find resource
Viable seeds sink because they have absorbed moisture and are ready to germinate. Non-viable seeds float because they are hollow and lack the carbohydrates and starch needed for germination
Note that a viable seed does not mean it will produce a plant that will produce figs... or figs that are parthenocarpic... just that they are viable....
This is a deep rabbit hole. We can expand if you're interested. I think it's worth it's own thread.... you're correct that we should have this as an easy to find resource
richbbfigs
Active member
very interesting, thanks. so by "viable seed" I assume you mean a seed in a caprified fig that has been pollinated by a wasp. So if all the seeds in a fig float, that would mean it's a common fig and no wasp has pollinated any of the seeds. Or possibly it's a smyrna type fig, but grown in a place without wasps, so the fig didn't get pollinated even though it needs pollination to produce the tastiest figs. The only seeds to sink would be from trees that are not "common" and also are grown where there are wasps. Do I understand that correctly?
ktrain
Moderator
If common varieties are hand pollinated, you will get some viable seeds that will sink.
GoodFriendMike
Moderator
Common or Smyrna figs and even Capri (since they do have female flowers as well)
If pollinated will have viable seed. Meaning you can plant them and they will sprout.
Outside of areas with the wasp only "common"/"persistent" figs will ripen all the time.
And there seeds will not be viable.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
I haven't hand pollenated myself. I don't know if one achieves more or fewer viable seeds but doing it manually.
It would seem you are in wasp country... if they're not immediately present in your neighborhood, they're certainly not far... I've seen distribution maps. Someone here might have it
Inflorescence
Well-known member
Smyrna figs require pollination to hold onto fruit and for them to mature to size. So you cannot have an unpollinated smyrna fig with seeds you can collect. Unpollinated smyrna figs will drop before they can grow into edible fruit and seeds do not develop in them.
Seeds that sink are from all fig fruits that have been pollinated, this includes common, Smyrna, and San Pedro.
Unpollinated seeds are basically “empty” if you will, and full of air, which is why float.
Inflorescence
Well-known member
What Joe said above and here are some pictures for you so you can see how to do it if you ever want to. You need to remove as much pulp as you can without crushing the seeds because the pulp can mess up results. You also need to check the seeds right away and not let them sit in water for a while before checking.
