A local light Smyrna variety producing average size and very aromatic figs with many crunchy seeds and sporting deep red/violet pulps.
If grown 'in ground' with limited irrigation there will be a concentration of mixed berry flavors and sugar.
It's one of our best.

Francisco

It looks like one of the best. Francisco, you have a good thing going in your area.

Francisco,
Nice!
I'm not sure why, as I have a very strong sense of smell (off setting my weaker senses), but I have yet to detect an oder from my figs. I've had folks come over who say they can smell the trees from far away. Do you have many aromatic figs?

Hi Michael,

I must say yes, but not all. Some are really very aromatic. This one, Quarteira, Violeta, other Smyrnas.. are good examples. Specially the dark skin ones, the figs with juicy and deep colored pulps are the figs which for my senses are the most flavor full and with mixes of aromas..
Cavaleiro and Cotio Verdeal, Lingelo have unmistakable berry aromas.
Valamandil seems to have all those good qualities in a quite high degree.

There is a difference between fruit grown in Pots and 'in ground' , The 'in ground' figs put up in evidence much faster all those properties particularly if not given excess water.

Another important point when this subject is discussed is to analyse what pollination does to figs
Others may have different senses and feelings but I am fully convinced that it represents a big plus
boosting all those qualities

If you ever felt the parfumes, odors, aromas coming from a fruit table tray full of ripe mangoes or nice big ripe apricots, 'crismin' peaches, etc.. believe me that if that tray is filled with ripe Quarteira figs you
would certainly notice it.

Another point (for later) is when and where figs taste best ..

Francisco

Francisco,
When I lived in Mexico (as well as Costa Rico) I'd get up and grab my 30 foot long bamboo pole and go knock breakfast out of the trees. I've been caught just sitting on the couch or lying in a hammock with a ripe mango beneath my nose. Those I smell and I would wear mango cologne if they made it.

As much as I love figs there is nothing that tastes better then a ripe mango hot right of the tree. A perfect peach comes close the the mango's oder puts it over the top.

It is amazing how much better ripe fruit is that's come right from the tree.
I even like bananas if they are straight from the tree and they too have a vexing oder.
I can even eat pineapple when I'm in the tropics - that's provide you first hide the lychees .from me.

I was out in the yard today yet just not much from the figs. I had 2 Rhonde de Bordeaux, a couple of Brown Turkeys, 6 Floreas and a 90 gram Lemon fig for lunch and I could detect a small oder - just not much. 

Can you tell me the name of a very fragrant fig variety I might be able to find in the US? thx

This picture is what $40 dollars American bought me in a tiny fruit market in Costa Rico. I thought you might enjoy it.
 

Yes Michael, mangoes rock. Mango cologne yes, fig cologne may help you the unwanted at a distance. Anyways, even with the smell of the plants, the figs are wonderful. The picture looks delicious.

Only thing that smells better than mangoes is jackfruit, but you have to work quick because all the flies come as soon as you cut it open.

I saw a jackfruit at Excalibur last week, maybe 4 pounds, but I did not realize the aroma, do they taste as nice as they smell. Some have reached 8 pounds and larger.

4 or 8 lbs is tiny jackfruit.  I was in asia and we only bought a quarter or less of one which was about 8 lbs on it own, they told me the big ones get to 20 kilos but they may be pulling my leg.  The aroma is more intense when cut open, it has a fragrant, floral smell and taste, when fresh it's flesh is crisp, sweet and juicy.  Not sure if I like it better than chilled soursop or not but fresh fruit of any kind is hard to beat.

I know they get big, wow 20k=44 lbs, well if one quarter is 8 lbs then a whole is 32 lbs so they could be right. There is a lot of tropical fruit down here, I will try a soursop. Thanks.

Between that wonderful (hack hack) oder and 967 pounds of gummy sticky fly trap like goo you can not even get off with turpentine - oh yea - great fruit. I made the mistake of buying and preparing one of those once. Once.

Soursops are persnikity fruit trees, particularly further north into S Fl.

Might I suggest a Rollina, instead?  Lemon Merengue mmmhhh mmmhhh good...

The better dooryard jackfruits are not so nasty to handle.  Especially if you actually pick them right

and I feel Lemon Zest is even better

Rollina does look interesting. thx - I'd never even heard of them before.
I think, though, my next exotic will be a pair of lychee trees/bushes.

Hey Michael;
I have a couple lychees and several longans, the lychees have their off years, no fruit this year. They are very tasty. A lot of good references for tropical fruit can be found here:

http://www.tropicalfruitforum.com/

W,
thx. I have done a lot of traveling and in a lot of places lychees are sold like the oranges are sold in S CA. Bags on the road. I absolutely pig out on them. I have noticed the ones in my local super market are getting better.
I have yet to try one of the chicken beak seeded ones but they sound great.
It's funny that lychees feel like sticking an eyeball in your mouth.
thx 4 the link.

Too funny, I really like them and longans are almost as good. You're welcome.

Lychees are relatively demanding trees.  They are obligate subtropicals with some real chill requirement, but not as hardy as other subtropicals like loquats or kaki.  Longans are less demanding, but both can be irregular bearers until they are happy.

Thanks shah, that irregular bearing is being experienced this year, even with older trees.

Do either of you guys know where to get good lychee plants and do you know about the chicken beak (small seeded ones?)