Figs
A FRUIT WORSHIPED THROUGHOUT THE AGES
Figs are an ancient ingredient savored throughout the world especially in Mediterranean and in Greece as a healthy nutricious food. Kalamata figs is the most famous origin for their natural shape, fleshy, delicate tang characteristics among Greek Figs.
FIGS:
* There was a fig tree in the Garden of Eden, in fact, the fig is the most talked about fruit in the Bible. Whether it was the forbidden fruit is debatable, but it is definite it provided the first clothing; "...and they knew they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons".
* Figs were mentioned in a Babylonian hymn book of about 2000 BC.
* The ancient city of Athens and its region Attica was famous for its figs and they soon became a necessity for its citizens, rich or poor. Solon, the ruler of Attica (639-559 BC) actually made it illegal to export figs out of Greece, reserving them solely for his citizens.
* The Persian King Xerxes, after his defeat by the Greeks at Salamis in 480 BC, had figs from Attica served him at every meal to remind him that he did not possess the land where this fruit grew. * The word sycophant, meaning an informer, and one who seeks favors by flattering the wealthy, comes from the Greek "to show the fig". As the valuable and sacred figs were stolen for export purposes, certain persons revealed the figs and accused the robbers; hence "fig shower".
* Every inhabitant of Athens, including Plato, was a "philosykos". Literally translated "a friend of the fig". And Mithridates, the Greek King of Pontus, heralded figs as an antidote for all ailments, instructed his physicians to use them medicinally, and ordered his citizens to consume figs daily. As a token of honour, figs were used as a training food by the early Olympic athletes and figs were also presented as laurels to the winners as the first Olympic "medal".
* The Romans regarded Bacchus as the god who introduced the fig to mankind. This made the tree sacred and all images of the god were often crowned with fig leaves.
* Pliny, the Roman writer (52-113 AD) said:"Figs increase the strength of young people, preserve the elderly in better health and make them look younger with fewer wrinkles".
* It is said that the prophet Mohammed once exclaimed: "If I should wish a fruit to Paradise it would certainly be the fig".
* Figs are mentioned in Homer's Iliad, as well as the Odyssey; by Aristophanes, Herodotus and Cato; and the fig is reported to have been the favorite fruit of Cleopatra, with the asp that ended her life being brought to her a basket of figs.
MEDICAL
* Although considered a fruit, the fig is actually a flower that is inverted into it self.The seeds are drupes, or the real fruit. Figs are the only to fully ripen and semi-dry on the tree. * For many years the fig has been used as a coffee substitute. The fruit contains a proteolytic enzyme that is considered an aid to digestion ans is used by the pharmaceutical industry. * And because of its high alkalinity it has been mentioned as being beneficial to persons wishing to quit smoking. * A chemical found in figs, Prosalens, has been used for thousands of years to treat skin pigmentation diseases. Prosalens, which naturally occurs in figs, some other plants and fungi, is a skin sensitizer that promotes tanning in the sun. * Figs have the highest dietary fiber content of any common fruit , nut or vegetable. * As early as 2900 BC, in early Sumerian times , the medicinal use of figs was being stressed. Now as before the figs offers a power house of nutrition; a combination of fiber minerals and nutrients that are unequaled in nature. * Figs make satisfying snacks and sweet and flavorful recipe additions. The dense, sweet flesh coupled with their unique crunchy seed , goes well in baked goods, with meat, poultry, vegetables and other fruits. Fig purse (225 gr. Figs pursed in a blender with 1/4 to 1/3 cup water or fruit juice) can be used as both sweetenerand a fat substitute in many recipes.
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