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Red Lebanese Bekaa

On my Black Mission I had grafted on a Red Lebanese Bekaa to it, and I found my first couple of ripe RLB figs off the graft!. Very small, size of a quarter. The flavor is outstanding!! Definitely had dark berry notes to it, much like a VdB. And it had a figgy-raspberry flavor much like a VdB. And it was very sweet. But what was very interesting and pleasing was the sweet / acid balance. Had a nice amount of tartness to counterbalance the sweet (moreso than VdB, which I am using as the closest flavor comparison I know) and made for a very complex flavor. Even though it is uncaprfied it has a very pronounced seed crunch that added a nutty component to the taste. The seed crunch is really good. In fact my wife said she could hear it as I was eating mine, and I could hear it as she was eating hers.

But just as important as the flavor, the eye is tiny. For the second fig, I was careful to cut the fig exactly in half and you can see that the ostiole is not technically closed off, nor is there any 'honey' plugging it up. But it is so small that I would consider it to be a closed eye fig. So good, this one is a real winner!

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Awesome, I picked one up this year. Thanks for posting. now to compare to Lebanese Red (bass).
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A delicious looking fig and what a great description! 
Do you freelance I have some great figs I can't seem to describe..lol
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Originally Posted by drew51
Awesome, I picked one up this year. Thanks for posting. now to compare to Lebanese Red (bass).


Absolutely! Yeah, I have a Red Lebanese (Bass) on order from greenfin, so I am hoping I get a chance to compare them side by side next year!
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Originally Posted by pino
A delicious looking fig and what a great description! 
Do you freelance I have some great figs I can't seem to describe..lol


Thanks pino! Yes, I am fig writer for hire :)
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This might be an amateur question, but do the red lebanese figs (both that were mentioned) need wasps to fruit??
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Originally Posted by farner
This might be an amateur question, but do the red lebanese figs (both that were mentioned) need wasps to fruit??


Not an amateur question! No, both of those figs are common figs (they are parthenocarpic => produce fruit without pollination [caprification]). Most of the figs that are discussed on the forum are common figs.
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Excellent! Thank you!!
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Originally Posted by starch


Absolutely! Yeah, I have a Red Lebanese (Bass) on order from greenfin, so I am hoping I get a chance to compare them side by side next year!



Me too, i picked up both this year. I think both have figs this year as I started cuttings very early, but they may not ripen in time? Being rooted cuttings, fruiting started late. Also it makes me wonder about the Yellow Bekaa?  After looking at the Pingo De Mel thread, I'm craving a good yellow!
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Originally Posted by drew51


Me too, i picked up both this year. I think both have figs this year as I started cuttings very early, but they may not ripen in time? Being rooted cuttings, fruiting started late. Also it makes me wonder about the Yellow Bekaa?  After looking at the Pingo De Mel thread, I'm craving a good yellow!


Whoa!! Thanks for pointing that out! Looks like I need a Yellow Bekaa too :)
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Thanks Starch for posting this thread. My first year red bekaa, produced a few fruit. They look and taste as you say. A clear winner!
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I agree. Of my 160+varieties, red Lebanese bekaa is a top 10-15 fig-without question. As stated earlier, it sets itself apart from many dark berry figs. Many of them I can't tell the difference, but with Mavra Sika and red Lebanese bekaa, I definitely can note a distinct difference. Great variety-great description, too, Starch!
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drew,

absolutely! glad to hear yours are good as well!

bigbadbill,

Right on! Ohhhh, Mavra Sika. Now I have a new one to find and add to the collection :) Thanks!
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