You can find figs below the vineyard at Green Olive at Red Hill.
Interesting Facts about Figs
The fig is a fruit that grows on Ficus carica, a flowering plant in the same family as the plants which produce breadfruit, mulberry and jackfruit. Figs are native to the Middle East and western Asia and have been cultivated for centuries for its fruit and more recently, as an ornamental plant. In fact, figs were one of the first plants to be cultivated for food by humans and have an interesting history of use. In 160 BCE, figs were fed to geese to fatten them up for dish similar to foie-gras, and Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, was said to have been killed by his wife, Livia, who gave him poisoned figs from his garden. Figs are often used in sweet food products like jams and fig rolls, but they make for an excellent addition in salads, savoury relishes and accompanying chicken dishes.
How to use Figs:
We grow Black Genoa and Brown Turkey varieties and harvest them to create a delicious fig jam that pairs perfectly with Brie or Camembert cheese. Here’s the recipe:
Farm Grown Fig Jam
Ingredients
- 1kg figs
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- A pinch of cloves
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Method
1. Put all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to boil, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Continue cooking uncovered from 30-60 minutes until thick and sticky, or you achieve your desired consistency. Store in the fridge for up to 2 months.
Recipe modified from the original by Pretty. Simple. Sweet.