Dark Portuguese. Received in a one gallon pot in a trade for tropical fruit. Thanks Bass.Well before I joined this forum and started growing figs, Martin and Bass posted about this fig [1][2][3][4][5].

It is juicy and has slight crunch that adds a texture and flavor that I like. The flavor had a duality/balance that was very different when compared to the figs I tasted after it, i.e., Malta Black, Late Black, MVSB, Smith, Aubique Petite, and Hardy Chicago. The taste is mildly figgy with an acidic undertone like adding citrus to a sweet dessert but with flavor. In my experience, only Camuna Small Black, Battaglia Green and now Dark Portuguese have this duality.

If it always tastes this way, then like Martin and Bass said five years ago, Dark Portuguese is winner. The size of the eye and the splitting that was eminent are the only concerns. I need to be sure I pick these once the cracking starts. If not, then hello souring and fruit flies.

JD thank you so much for adding all the photos and results to our forum. Especially the detailed flavor impressions. Much appreciated.

Congrats JD - another top notch variant. This is an AWESOME fig. Reliable and deserve much more rave. Year after yr, it produces well. It is way better in taste than many many figs. I made a bunch of little DP plants from clippings during pruning exercise earlier in the year. I am sure glad I imported this variant from Encanto Farms. Thanks to Jon & the Ottawan CFIA officer for advising on proper importation requirements & Jon's efforts in meeting these requirements. It was OTTAWA CFIA clear advise that helped cleared shipment at border crossing.

Thanks for sharing this info. This is one I planted in ground this spring and it loves its environment. I have another in the pot for backup.

I have a youngish potted DP , there are figs on it for first time, but don't know if they will ripen this year. I may knock off the smaller ones .Thanks for the flavor profile.

Dark Portuguese doesn't get much rave because it has a similar profile, or so they say out there in the Internets (Dan in LA, et al), to Sal (EL), Gino's Black, GM#11.  So they all share in the rave for similar performance in the mouth, so it's a matter of choosing which variants grow best and be productive where you are.

JD:


Thanks for the pics and opinions about the flavor profile of "Dark Portuguese".  That slight, acid hit, that you described, helps make the figs less cloying, and too, sweet.  Some are too much like figs sprinkled with "Sugar Twin"...yech!

JD...

Just respectfully, curious....grounded trees, or containerized?  If containerized, do you control water at the roots, or, did the tree get caught in the rains?  Why the splitting?


Frank

I have enjoyed my DP, and have given away quite a few plants I propagated. The DP is a good one and it made the cut to be in the ground this spring.

Looks great.  My 3 year old plant is doing n.o.t.h.i.n.g.

JD thanks for trip down memory lane when i had mine. It was giving to neighbor with some other plants as it was a milder version of my hardy chicago so no need for it.
But he left out the containers in his yard over the winter and they all died but he new better(shaking head) no more plants for him.

It was good grower and a good producer of figs i can attest to.

In JD's first post here click on blue link #5 and scroll down to post 3 for pictures.

thanks a lot for the flavor profile jd. i'm super interested in those.

You are welcome folks. This is fun

Shah8,
I think the Dark Portuguese's flavor profile is different from Hardy Chicago, Sal's EL, and the others I mentioned. The flavored acidity makes it unique for my climate and taste buds. The beauty in my situation is that Frank (FMD) has most of the figs that I have. Thus I have a check and balance in terms of a mutually exclusive opinion on grounded figs whereas the majority of mine are potted.

FiggyFrank,
My tree is potted and connected to an automated irrigation with a zone dedicated to potted plants. Trees get nine minutes of water twice daily and nothing when the rain level trips the sensor. I am not sure why it threatened to split but it didn't and I will pick them such that I mitigate splitting as much as possible.

Wow looks great! Thanks for sharing!