Same cousin mentioned in another thread about theft of trees etc. brought us some dried figs over from Cyprus on a recent visit. I thought I would just have to put up with the fig 'famine' that reigns supreme at this time of year, so I can't tell you how welcome even these dried version of my fav. fruit are.

More importantly, they taste amazingly good. They seem to be mixed variety, coz some have a brownish flesh, whilst others have a deep reddish flesh. Hmm, not sure what to make of that, but I get a real sense of a fig 'hit' every time I have one. We're going over (to Cyprus) in May, so I must remember to bring plenty back for the next fig 'famine'.

Again, I've taken some pics, so I'll post later if I get any requests for the fig 'porn'. Sorry I can't pass them around, so you'd better use your imagination!!!

I went to Costco on Ash Wednesday last week and they were handing out samples of the dried figs they sell there.  Since I was fasting, I had to pass them up. :(

Sprouts has whole bins of dried Turkish figs.  They sell them by the oz.

Suzi

@ HarveyC - You fast too??? Then this site might also be of interest to you:

http://www.fastingconnection.com/forum

I'm a member, & post there too whenever I fast, same username.

For some reason I haven't been able to work out yet, I haven't been able to post in the last week or so. I'm guessing coz of some unresolved technical issue.

@ Suzi - So you guys are well catered for as far as any dried fig fix goes then. But sold by the oz? Sounds like they charge a lot for very little.

Costas, only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday :)  I abstain from red meat most Fridays.  For religious reasons, if that's not evident.

Went with DW for forst time to store called whole food and in there bins i saw dried Black Mission.
Was tempted.

Yeah, I suppose nothing beats fresh. But given a straight choice - dried or nothing, give me dried. Esp. when they're this good.

any fig would be nice... i'm starved.

The Sprouts near me had them for $2.99/lb.  I came close to buying them out.  Now they're up to $4.99/lb for Turkish ones and $5.99/lb for Calimyrnas.  The Turkish taste better but the Calis look better.

@ Harvey - That's not fasting; that's tickling your tummy. The guys on this forum fast for up to 50 days, tho above 40 is not recommended. My longest to date is 21 days, tho I plan to do longer soon. And when we say fast, we don't mean going without a class of food. We mean no food - period. Only water is allowed.

I bought some fresh figs from local supermarket (Asda) last week they where from Africa,  4 of the 8 where sweet and soft the rest where dry and hard.

Personally I do not like the flavor of dried turkish figs at all.  Calimyrna are equally yucky as Turkish.  Greek are great.  Black mission are nice.  Recently a whole foods near me started selling organic conadria for 5.99/lb and they are also nice.

Rob - the cheque's in the post. I will not buy Turkish produce on principle if I can help it. On the rare occasions we've tried Turkish figs, we've always been disappointed.

These dried figs are made from Gk/Cypriot figs of course - home produce - which we find is usually superior in every way. 

Costas yes just cannot beat home dried figs from own tree !
Put on board covered with cheese cloth on patio table in sun.
Dried them one season along with some Roma plum tomatoes that were sliced from garden and sprinkled with sea salt.
Beat any dried fig from store i have tasted.

So here are those amazing-tasting dried figs. Dunno if it's coz I miss them so much since our bumper crop last year, but all I can say is, I'm sure glad to have them until the fresh versions come along on our trees.

The long stuff, in case you're wondering, is called sojouko. No, not sudoku silly. SOJOUKO. Don't ask. I can tell you this one doesn't grow on trees. The colorful package in the middle is Gk Cypriot cheese - called halloumi. Yummy. And all courtesy of our visitor from Cyprus. He should come over more often.

Wonderful pictures Costas thanks for sharing them.