Vasile, the fig you refer to as "Vasilika Syka" - is it the one that is referred to as Vasilika Syka/Sika in Greece and not the one that is related to the Dalamatie family (and is often called Vasilika Sika in the U.S.)? 

I only have JH Adriatic from Herman2 list. Donated by a kind member of the group. I would rather grow a less fussy tree with sweet berry taste rather than those with exotic taste but a poor grower ( sour grape detected) .

Yes The oval shaped one,the greek have be it white ,black or redish outside with dark red inside,not the very elongated one.
The Elongated one is Dalmatie, and it was always known as such,even before Ira Condit.
Dalmatie is super tasty too,and it also,could,benefit from Greenhouse ,and there are other super tasty figs,like Noire de Barbentane,Longue D'Aout,Negretta,Nero 600m,and Noire de Caromb, also fig cultivars that deserve not to be cheep when acquired.
I am talking cuttings or plants of the above should never sell at the same price as Brown Turkey ,Brunswick,Texas everbearing,or Celeste,it just is not fair,considering the quality of the fruits.

I agree with VS.  There are so many "HOT" figs that a lot of figs that are not talked about!  A couple of years ago. Maccol was hot....not anymore!  To me, "HOT" is in the eye of the beholder.  There was a time when Sal's Corleone was "HOT".  Now that every one know how bad the fig splits when it rains and how watery tasting it can be without the proper heat, its not "hot" anymore!  And the Godfather movie made it hot too....IMHO.

In my opinion, "HOT" should be described as very prolific, non-splitting, very sweet, dependable, and very hardy without dying to the ground in a climate of 7a.  I'm in 8a so if you're in zone 7 you should have pretty close results as me depending on how much rain and cold weather you get.  Below is a rating from my database on some of my "HOT" figs.  Now, "HOT" may mean something completely different to you.  But for me, here are a few "hot ones".  Wait....before looking at my data, let me explain the columns.  Hardy means it does not die completely to ground.  If it dies to the ground then I don't consider it a "Hot" fig.  Notice Black Mission is NOT on the list?  If it is very hardy, I give the fig a 10.  Split.  If a figs splits open when it rains, then it is not a "hot" fig.  Brunswick Peter's Honey or Salem White are not hot figs.  Why b/c they split badly when it rains!!!  Both are excellent tasting figs---Brunswick being very rich but not a hot fig!  The lower the number the better.    Taste, Flavor, Rich, and Heat are self explanatory.  The higher the number the better in that category.  

  

Wow! Thanks Dennis!

Dennis - you haven't provided enough data. Can you please give more clarity :)

Great information Dennis. thanks a bunch. We will see how they do in my hot humid weather, I have everyone and cn not wait for fruit this summer and fall. Thanks again very the very detailed information.

Good info , thanks for putting it together....

WOW  Dennis, awesome work. Love it !! I'm looking forward to seeing The Dominick on that list :)

I believe that there are much more than 700 varieties of figs. When you take into consideration the number of countries where figs are grown multiplied times the number of varieties in each country in the end you will get a staggering number of varieties that you will never own.
Under such a scenario, there will always be the next hot fig as the supply of “rare figs” is endless…
In my humble opinion, “Hot” is tied to greed and has nothing to do with taste.

Sas, I agree completely.

Alan, take into account that in addition to flavor intensity there are also many different unusual flavors among figs including: berry, peach, banana, butterscotch ... etc.

Sas , well said .

John

Sas I agree 100%

Sas, I agree with most of what you say but disagree with the "greed" comment.

We are a consumer-oriented society and many people are used to having whatever they want and will become very indebted to own large owns, nice cars, etc.  Some of this is related to pride while much is just the compulsive nature of many people.  The pride may be related to "bragging rights" or just the satisfaction of knowing one owns something that is popular.  Most varieties that sell for big money on eBay start out at low prices and the above factors lead people to bid up prices to high levels.

There is also a matter of discontent, eternally hoping to find something better than you've already experienced.  Many times it is hoping to find a fig that does taste better than you've ever had (big emphasis on "hope").  Sometimes the desire is largely related to the appearance of a fig.  Appearance can have a big influence on one's perception of the quality of any food.  It can be intoxicating if one looks long and hard enough!

I've paid high prices for many figs so I'm speaking from personal experience.  I wrote back in 2010 or so on this forum that I seriously doubted I would ever have more than two dozen varieties but I am well over 200 now (maybe 300...my lists are in a state of disarray).  I don't have any desire to own every fig.  In fact, I would like to reduce the number.  But I see another fig that looks like a "must have" so I acquire it.  I truly hope to be culling some this winter or next summer.

Harvey,

"Erich Fromm described greed as "a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction." "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed

Under this definition, there will always be the next "must have" fig at any price and this will make it "Hot".

Dennis,

Loved your list.  Since I'm so close to you it will be interesting to see how close our experiences match.  I must say I was really surprised at Bill's Figs that his Blue Giant was really tasty and sweet and large.  I ended up buying one so I will see how it does.  I really enjoyed my Maccol this year.  What didn't you like about it?  I think there may be a few I may add to my list.  What about maltese falcon?  Are these all figs you are growing outdoors?


Sharon

Generally I think that ALL figs become hot when roasted on a BBQ.

Sas, that part of the definition certainly fits!!!  Further in the Wikipedia link it discusses the purpose of greed is to deprive others, etc., and  that's now what I see as the objective of most figaholics.

Vasile and Dennis, it's great to see both of your lists.  Vasile, in case you haven't seen my post from last summer, my Black Madeira grafted onto Brown Turkey is moderately vigorous and productive.  You might want to give that a try.  Dennis, I like your detailed scoring but would like to have some clarification.  Does "Heat" mean that it requires a lot of heat to ripen?  If so, what does a 10 rating in that category mean?  Also, I think you need to leave some room in your scoring for finding even a better fig some day.  Maybe you've really only tasted a 9.5 so far! ;)

'Hot fig' cuttings going for a $100+, particularly when the varieties are relatively unknown and untested, seems like a speculative 'bubble' economy.   Similar, though less extreme to the tulip craze that swept Holland.

I've seen sillier hobbies that cost more...Pez collecting comes to mind. You can eat figs, still have to buy the Pez candy.

I doubt anyone is spending more than they can afford on figs alone, but it's our American culture to never have enough.

I can't seem to understand how taste and flavor are being used in this context Dennis. Looking at the numbers I see that taste is always greater or equal to flavor, but why? 

Taste: 

Rich - that's a good strategy. I have a general one for the garden, I should probably have one for figs and other container plants as well.