Figs are a very healthy fruit. All over the world, it is appreciated for the fact that fresh fruits contain a huge amount of sugars, organic acids and trace elements. This fruit helps to quickly get rid of hunger, does not cause thirst and has a positive effect on the whole organism. However, in our country these fruits are rare, and few people know how to choose the right fresh figs.
What is fig?
Figs are nothing more than the fruit of a fig tree, which was mentioned in the Bible. From time immemorial, people used these fruits in their diet, and fig leaves were crushed from the leaves of a tree and used as a wound healing and anti-inflammatory agent.
During the year, a fig tree can bloom several times. During this time, inedible caprices growing from male stamen inflorescences can ripen on it 2-3 times. However, people who grow and harvest fig trees and know how to choose figs claim that edible inflorescences ripen only once a year. Only at the end of summer can you get juicy, fleshy and very healthy fruits ripened from a female inflorescence - figs. It is precisely such figs that subsequently hit the market stalls.
Beneficial features
Even in ancient times, the inhabitants of warm countries, where figs grow almost everywhere, noticed its useful and nutritious properties. Even then, people began to use it in the fight against all sorts of ailments. Today, medicine has officially proved that this fruit can actually be used to prevent and treat certain diseases. It is especially useful for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases and blood pressure drops. The fact is that the potassium contained in these fruits in large quantities is necessary for the normal functioning of the heart muscle.
Doctors recommend figs for use in diseases of the genitourinary tract and gastrointestinal tract. A large number of nutrients in combination with the healing properties of the fig tree fruit contributes to the clear functioning of the brain.
Fresh or dried figs contribute to the normalization of the whole body. It has healing properties for sore throat and sore throat, strengthens the immune system and helps with chronic fatigue. However, a large amount of iron, necessary for the normal process of hematopoiesis, also contains figs.
How to choose the right fruit?
However, not all fruits offered by the fruit and vegetable market are equally good. So, it’s not always possible to get a tasty, really fresh fig in Russia, where it was not born, not always. Typically, merchants can only offer dried or canned fruit. And the fact that most often lies on their counters with the coveted name of the fruit does not at all look like a true fruit. Usually these are old, stale fruits, sprayed and treated with a mass of synthetic substances, in order to preserve and give the fruit a marketable appearance. Therefore, you should never buy the first fig you like. Do not forget that sometimes the merchant himself does not know how long the fruit has been stored. And as you know, figs are a perishable product.
Where can I find and how to choose the right figs?
Truly fresh fruit can only be found in its homeland. Unfortunately, a fruit ripped from a tree is usable for only a few hours. It is not subject to long-term storage, since fermentation processes begin very quickly in it. As a result of these processes, the fruit begins to rapidly deteriorate and rot. However, despite this, knowing how to choose, fresh figs can still be found here.
Where does this mysterious fruit come from?
Figs are widespread in hot countries. On the vegetable shelves of our country, he gets from Uzbekistan, Armenia, Turkey and China. Today it is cultivated in several Russian regions, for example, in the Krasnodar Territory, in the Caucasus and Crimea. It is here or in regions close to these that there is a high probability of acquiring truly ripe and tasty figs. How to choose good fruits? There are rules. Ripe figs, depending on the variety, can be green, dark blue or black. Inside such a fruit there are many nut seeds. There are really a lot of seeds in it, sometimes a large fruit can contain them up to one and a half thousand pieces. If you press a little on the fresh fruit, you can feel a noticeable elasticity, which nevertheless lends itself to pressing.
The freshest figs
But what about the inhabitants of remote regions of our country, with a harsh northern climate? Of course, we have special supermarkets specializing in the sale of only fresh fruits and vegetables. Such enterprises purchase products directly from the manufacturer, while delivery is carried out by air within a few hours. Undoubtedly, if you know how to choose ripe figs, then buying it in a similar store at the appropriate price will not be difficult. Moreover, it is better to eat such fruits immediately, but if necessary, they can be left in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. With proper storage, the fruits will remain safe for health and retain a perfectly acceptable freshness.
Dried Alternative
Due to the short shelf life, the fruits of the fig tree are dried, dried and canned. This allows them to retain all the necessary nutrients for several years. Of course, the processed product will not fully possess the properties that a fresh fruit has, but it will still be useful and nutritious. Therefore, many nutritionists recommend dried fruit for use.
However, in order to preserve the presentation of such dried fruits for a long time, they are also subjected to various types of chemical treatment. Therefore, very often, instead of a source of vitamins necessary for the body, you can purchase a poisonous product. To prevent this from happening, you need to know how to choose figs in the whole variety of dried fruits.
The right choice of dried fruits
According to experts, good dried figs always have a matte color. The gloss and beautiful bright amber color of the dried fruit indicates that it was processed with a special chemical substance - it was boiled in a solution of sulfur fumes. The raw fruits of fig trees usually have discreet gray, beige or yellow hues.
Do not forget about the fact that dried fruits can not be fleshy - this is their name. The same goes for dried figs. If dried figs have a dense and fleshy structure, this is a clear sign that they were dipped in special synthetic substances or treated with petrochemical solutions.
It is advisable to soak the purchased dried figs for several minutes in cold water - this way it will give up most of the chemistry contained in it or on its surface.