History of fig

Ficus carica, commonly known as the fig, originated in Asia. History of fig, this delicious fruit, goes back to 5000 years ago and it is believed that this fruit, along with other types of plants like wheat, rice, millet etc. was being sought out and cultivated. The word fig is coming from the Latin word Ficus and older Hebrew name called Feg. 

According to excavation of historic sites, the birthplace of fig is Iran and Egypt and Sumerian stone tablets dating back to 2500 B.C. record culinary use of figs. Right now the biggest town garden of the fig is located in Iran called Estahban.

Sumer a part of Persia empire and the birthplace of fig

This fruit was brought to Europe by Romanians and Greek and Plato loved fig and Greek used to call it Philosopher s’ fruit.

Plato academy statue

Spanish Franciscan missionaries brought the fig to southern California in 1520, leading to the variety known as the Mission fig. Evidence shows the fig to be in abundance in both China and England by this time as well. History of fig in america as you can see is not more than 550 years.

History of fig in religion

Fig tree was repeatedly used in religious books like bible and in Quran (holy book of Muslims). There is a part named upon this fruit. It’s being said that prophet of Muslims (Muhammad) really loved this fruit too and repeatedly said that he’d love to see fig tree in paradise. Also in Genesis, fig tree is mentioned. Adam and Eve used the leaves of the fig tree to sew garments for themselves after the Fall, when they realized that they were naked (Genesis 3:7).

Some scholars also believe the forbidden fruit picked by Eve was a fig rather than an apple.

Fig tree

Fig deciduous tree (losing the leaves in autumn) can live as long as 100 years and grow to 50 feet tall, though they more typically stay between 20 to 30 feet. Although fig trees in Iran are smaller and are between 15 to 20 feet max. Their branches mostly spread than growing tall. Fig fruit needs hot and dry climate to flourish and the fruit requires all-day sun to ripen.

Fig around the world

The most important producer of fig all around the world respectively are: Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Iran.

The amount of the production of each country is according to the below table:

Country		Annual production
	Turkey	300,282
	Egypt	176,105
	Algeria	128,620
	Morocco	126,554
	Iran	72,672
World		1,137,730

Fig in the market

Though there are a lot of types of fig all around the world, most of the customers can easily get their hands on verities like Kadota, Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Iranian dried fig (also called baby fig) and Calimyrna figs.

Watered only by rain, Iranian died fig is the sweetest one among all types of the mentioned fig, though more delicious.