Good day, I am finally starting to complete converting my picture down to size and just about ready to place them on this thread.  I've been researching over 30 different varieties.  I will start this thread showing pictures taken of the tree and the figs researched.  It was an amazing trip.  I will definately be going back again next year.  For those who do not know, the figs in these pictures have been fertilized by the fig wasp.  What that means is if you live in an area where the fig wasp is present, then your figs could very well taste like those in these pictures.  I do not have the fig wasp in my location, but I do plan on testing figs in my orchard to some researched.  Figs polliinated by the fig wasp MAY taste different, at least that is my observation.  Jon and I had a discussion on this.  Everybody's palatte and taste is different.  I think the fig wasp brings alot to these figs.  The seeds in these figs were larger than those not pollinated by the wasp. 

In case you're wondering how I knewn what pictures were what; I took them in order; meaning the first picture I took was a picture of the plackard on the tree then a set of photos behind the plackard.  UC Davis fig orchard has 1 orchard which is divided by side A and side B.  In other words, Black Maderia can be located in both sides but different locations of the orchard.

I will keep this thread open and comment on each set of photos I list here.  Enough rambling, here is my first set of photos of one of the best figs tasted on the trip, Barsnisotte. For 2 days, I kept coming back tasting these figs!!!!  They were that rich in flavor!  Enjoy!  More to come!

Dennis,

Dennis,

Dennis,
Thanks for sharing your information with us. My Barnisotte has not ripened its fruits yet. A few formed, but this cold weather ended it. Hopefully next season.
I will be watching for future posts on your UC Davis visit/research. You must have sampled some amazing tasting figs. My trees are asleep in the basement, so I enjoy reading about your journey and dreaming of a warmer, sunnier 2012.

Eve
Buffalo, NY

Yessssirrr Dennis!

Thanks for starting this thread. A few questions for reference: Do you recall the size of the tree? What about the figs or the leaves? Given that you have tasted Smith, Black Madeira, and other highly rated figs, Is Barnisotte in that class? If so, what makes it a member?

Joe, if my memory serves me right, the eye was open but not as open as some of the others tested. 

Eve, I almost got sick because I was eating so many figs!

Hey JD!  What's happening?  This particular tree was not that tall.  It was only around 10 feet tall.  The leaves were 5 lobe with a semi-long center lobe.  The leaves were large, thick and felt like velvet.  Barnisotte is definately in the class with BM, Smith, RdB, Kathleen Black, Tacoma Violet, Gino's, Alma and others.  What makes it a member?  I think it was the richness in flavor, sweetness and skin taste.  Some people only eat the inside of a fig.  Me?  I eat the whole thing!   

OK, here is a picture of Adriatic.  It was very good.  I love the inside color of this fig.  It was not rich, but very sweet.  Howard says it taste like coconut to him.  It did not taste like it to me.  But it was a good fig.  The tree is a small old tree.  It was barely 8 feet tall.

enjoy

Here is a picture of Orphan.  It had a wine flavor meaning it was too ripe.  I will try this one again next year.

enjoy!

Here is to me truly one fo the best tasting white figs! 

Excel!  It was excellent!  This was another tree I keep coming back to!  Very rich for a white fig!  I ate so many of these figs on day 1 and day 2.  I can't wait till next year to taste these again!

Enjoy!

Dennis ,
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience at the UC Davis fig smorgasbord.
I was going to send my small Excel plant to my brother in Florida , but after your post I think it deserves a chance to see how it can do in NH.
Kerry

You are welcome Kerry!  Now aren't too many post out there on the next fig I tasted at UCD, Beall.  Below are a few pics.  The figs I tasted were not sweet.  I got the same results the next day.  I think they were a little over ripe.  The sweetnes was gone, but the figs were very large.  I will try these again next year at UCD and my orchard.  According to UCD DNA, this fig is the same as Early Violet.  A very pretty fig.

The next fig I tried was call Bournabat.  This fig is from Turkey and today I am kicking myself DAILY for not being a fig collector when I lived in Ankara years ago!  I like the flavor and taste of this fig.  It does require pollination.  If you are lucky enough to have the fig wasp in your area, then this would be a good fig to add to your collection.  I give this fig an A+.  It is a very fat, juicy, and sweet fig.  Enjoy!

Dennis,

I have to agree with you on, Barnisotte being one of the best tasting figs. But, it ripens late for me. Also, it seems like that there are two different strains of "Beall" are floating around. Leaves on my Beall from Durio looks very different than the Beall in UCD.

Thank you for posting the photos.


Navid.

Hey Dennis,
you might want to try resizing your pictures smaller when thumbnail is clicked they come out somewhat blured.

But leave the light types nice and big at 998.07kb they looked good nice and blurry.
 ; )

Well Dennis,Excell seem to be excellent tasting in Ca.
I would like to hear it is just as good in Charlotte ,your climate?
That is what is important for you.
In my climate it filled with water,split and sour so bad,that I got rid of it.
Burnisotte Black quite different,was good,and tasty,here too,but  not hardy due to Fig mosaic virus,illness.
Beall was also sweet and tasty,but just as  ,FMVirused,like Burnisotte.

Well, OK Martin.  Navid, Beall at UCD were huge!  I think the main crop ripen days before we arrived.  VS, next year will be an important year because I will get the opportunity to fully test 90% of my collection.  But if my 2 Excel trees are as good as the one at UCD, then I will be very happy.  For a green fig, it sure was sweet and rich!  I don't have a Barnisotte though.  I was suppose to get one when I was at Dalton's but forgot.  Maybe I'll put that on my Christmas wish list.  Both, Excell and Barnisotte were huge trees at UCD.  I'll give a full report next year on how the figs in my climate performed.

My Beall from R.Watts tasted excellent.  Very nice color - goes from red to dark purple. It was amongst the top 3 best tasting dark fig this season.

Well, I need to add some more pictures from my 2011 UCD trip.  I haven't even scratched the surface on my photos.  Here is a tree called San Pietro.  Joe was looking for this tree and found it.  It's a small tree but had plenty of very sweet tasty figs.  Beautiful red interior and just good to eat!  Enjoy!  I took extra photos and videos of Black Madeira, Black Ischia, Zidi and Barnisotte because these 4 black figs were just out of this world good.  I am posting this pictures in order of my notes so stay tuned for pics on those 4 and others.  Have a good day!  Cheers! 

Here is Native de Argentile from UCD.  Great, super fantastic taste!  I have this tree growing in a pot in my area.  No figs on my tree last year but I know there will be some this year!  Come on summer!!!!  Enjoy the pics!

Hi Dennis,
c'mon now uploading and resizing is easy even for a computer illiterate as i am.
I want to see more of your pictures  !

So many forum members yet so few pictures and when i get bored and post some folks say aw. your showing off .

Find the time and show em !

Here is Deanna!  This tree was loaded with fig!  I mean loaded!  They were very large and very sweet.  It reminds me of a fat lemon in color.  I also have this tree in my orchard.  Mine is identical in size, shape, and color but the figs on my tree get so heavy that they just fall from the tree when ripe.  The flavor and taste were different than those at UCD but that could be due to the fig wasp pollinating them.  More to come!  Enjoy!

Awesome thread Dennis

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