I have also been growing both Kathleen's Black and Noire de Caromb.
Gene Hosey, of East Coast Figs, who discovered KB and had the source tree in his front yard thought KB was the finest dark fig he'd ever tasted and he was very experienced with a very extensive orchard in Maryland.
My NdC is only 5 years old and my KB is a few years older then that. I will move my NdC to a 15 gallon pot this year (the KB has been in a 15 gallon pot for several years).
As "they" say with figs --"the older the tree the better the figs" so maybe things will change in years to come, but after harvesting figs from both in NdC's year 3 and 4 to compare I find I prefer KB. I hesitate to make any concrete opinions as I tend to wait until the year 5 harvest to give the trees time to "grow up".
I'm chiming in here because I'm a big fan of Kathleen's Black. I am becoming a fan of NdC, but again I want to give mine another year before I make any decisions. Some varieties - in my experience - take years before their figs "mature" and reach their potential (ex. LSU Purple).
Normally I wouldn't even offer an opinion after only 2 harvests and with one tree being immature (my sole opinion), but I felt I needed to as I think KB is a superb fig and I'll defend it whenever I think its getting a bad rap. I sell both varieties. I sell more KB - probably because I've had access to the source tree to harvest cuttings from and most folks like to have varieties they know are correct and from the original tree whenever possible. I also think more people know about Kathleen's Black.
I think both these are excellent varieties (based on popular opinion and my limited experience) and again my NdC is only 5 years old so it may be an unfair test, but I do not find NdC to be sweeter or to have a more complex after taste. This is just my opinion (obviously) and it is only based on a tiny sample size (2 trees), and I only offer it as I think KB is a superb fig and a "side by side 2 year test" is pretty hard to draw conclusions from.
Igor, I'm not sure I understand your post. I do agree that KB and NdC are different varieties and I am not trying to criticize, only trying to understand as your post reads (to me) like you are claiming to judge these 2 varieties while only 2 years old or at least after only 2 harvests. If not how old are your trees?
How many years have you harvested figs from these 2 trees and how old were they?
To anyone interested; I do recommend buying NdC cuttings if you don't have this variety (KB as well). Both of these varieties have very good reputations and $10 is a decent price. I also agree with Igor that their flavors are different (and to me good enough already to warrant owning both). NdC cuttings are not as easy to get as KB and in past years they were sometimes hard to find. Another reason to consider buying NdC cuttings.
Can I ask where your trees came from?
And again, Igor, I'm not trying to criticize you - I just disagree.
If I weren't totally swamped with cuttings (I decided to sell cuttings this year) I'd consider buying NdC cuttings to add another tree to my orchard (275 varieties - 600+ trees at this point).