When thinking about
summer and the Mediterranean mostly factors like sun and beach come to mind along with - of course ;-) - delicate local dishes. But some actually add one more
synonym for summer - the fig. Even though this fruit is very well-known to locals, it is still not given enough appreciation in general. This leaves one question, why is this specific fruit considered the
Fruit of Heaven?
This green or purple coloured fruit is technically not a fruit but rather an
inverted flower. Supposedly, the fig (ficus carica) originated in the Southwestern part of Asia and across the Mediterranean region. It seems that humans have
enjoyed figs even before they started to cultivate staples as wheat, barley and legume. Moreover, the fig in particular is
mentioned in holy scriptures several times. Following that and the medicinal value, this fruit is referred to as a Fruit of Heaven or a
Holy Fruit.
Most of the fig trees in Croatia can be found
mainly on the west coast of Istria and in Dalmatia. The fruit can be consumed
fresh or dried, but is also used as an ingredient to produce
jam, liqueurs or medicine. While the peak season in Croatia for fresh figs is
June to October, dried ones can be enjoyed all year long. Nevertheless, both come with numerous
health benefits. Among others, figs are rich in minerals and vitamins. It is often mentioned that the compounds act anti-carcinogenic. Hence, figs can help to
prevent and treat various diseases.
The
leaf of a fig tree, can be used to make
delicious tea in order to ease throat ache. The
white creamy fluid, which appears when picking a fresh fig, may be helpful to
treat skin problems such as corns and warts. Also, imagine you are at the beach, enjoying, swimming and suddenly it happens -
a sea urchin sting! But it gets even worse, you cannot remove all the thorns by yourself. Here is what you should try: pick a fresh fig, put the white creamy fluid on the sting and watch a
little miracle happening… in most cases the rest of the thorns will come out themselves. So keep this insider tip in mind for you next vacation and share it! ;-)
If you are lucky enough and it’s the season of figs, make sure to eat them in the morning as
a healthy breakfast. Add some
homemade local honey, maybe some
walnuts as well, and you will get
a true one-of-kind breakfast experience! It is not just a coincidence that local restaurants include figs into their menu, especially in combination with prosciutto, cheese and olive oil. Some may even offer
fig vinegar or fig liqueur - do not miss out on this opportunity!
Fresh figs are a delicacy, for sure, but
do not underestimate dried ones. Dried figs are great for digestive problems and help to
lower blood pressure or lose weight. Local recipes often combine dried figs and olive oil. This combination should help with issues like infertility, bronchitis or asthma, making it a “
gold-worthy medicine”. Hence, dried figs are also referred to as
Dry Gold.
To conclude, the Fruit of Heaven is truly one of a kind and the Croatian coast is
blessed with this gift. Therefore, keep that in mind for your next stay at one of
our villas in Dalmatia or Istria. And last but not least, the Dry Gold is also a
great edible souvenir to take with you - for others and yourself, of course. :-)
Antonela Grgic
11.2.2022
MY ISTRIA GUIDE
