Green fig: A healthy Caribbean staple | Loop Trinidad & Tobago (2024)

FAQs

What is green fig good for? ›

Great source of vitamins and minerals

In addition to potassium and iron, green figs are a rich source of other vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, vitamin B6, magnesium and manganese. These help to aid in the absorption of vitamins from other foods as well as boost the immune system.

Figs contain powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory chemicals, like carotenoids and polyphenols. Figs aren't a cure-all, but these nutrients can help lessen some of the inflammatory effects of diabetes on your body.

Green figs, as we call them in the Caribbean, are just what they seem, green bananas. These thin, somewhat hard-skinned bananas are a staple of our cuisine and are eaten in a myriad of ways. Not only are they economical, they're a great source of complex carbohydrates, iron and minerals.

In certain Caribbean countries like Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago, green bananas are called green figs. The term "green fig" is employed to distinguish unripe or green bananas from their ripe, yellow counterparts.

Green figs can be eaten raw or cooked and have a mild, sweet, earthy, and honeyed taste with nuances of raspberries, citrus, butterscotch, nectar, berry, and nuts, depending on the variety.

Calimyrna figs are not only delicious but also nutritious. They are rich in vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and iron, providing ample energy. Additionally, they are easy to digest and a good source of natural fibre.

When it comes to raw fruit, you can easily have 2-3 figs in a day. If you are having dried figs, stick to 3 figs and do not have them without soaking overnight. Our body can absorb the nutrients and digest some dried fruits and nuts in a better way when they are soaked well.

Both fresh and dried figs contain a high level of vitamin K. People taking blood-thinning medications such as warfarin need to keep the vitamin K levels in their diet consistent, so they may wish to avoid figs.

A diet rich in fruit and vegetables, including fresh figs, naturally increases potassium levels and is therefore encouraged to help manage blood pressure.

In Koran, in Surah At-Tin God swears upon fig by saying “by the fig, and the olive.” Prophet Muhammad, in one of his hadiths, said “If a Fruit ever descended from Paradise, I would say that this is it, as heaven's fruits contain no pips. Eat from it…” Fig had been a symbol of abundance in Ancient Greece and Egypt.

How to use green figs? ›

Green figs preserved in syrup, or vye konfyt, as they're called in South Africa, can be enjoyed on cheeseboards, pancakes and other desserts, or even eaten straight from the jar. I steep mine in honey, rather than sugar syrup, so they're less sweet.

It might surprise you to know that ounce-for-ounce figs have more potassium than bananas or oranges, fruits often recommended as good sources of potassium. So 100g of figs provide 609mg potassium, bananas provide 257mg and oranges provide 181mg.

The fig is commonly called a fruit, but botanically it is an infructescence–a type of multiple fruit. The fleshy structure is called the syconium and is lined internally with numerous unisexual flowers.

Ficus americana, commonly known as the West Indian laurel fig or Jamaican cherry fig, is a tree in the family Moraceae which is native to the Caribbean, Mexico in the north, through Central and South America south to southern Brazil.

Green figs preserved in syrup, or vye konfyt, as they're called in South Africa, can be enjoyed on cheeseboards, pancakes and other desserts, or even eaten straight from the jar. I steep mine in honey, rather than sugar syrup, so they're less sweet.

Figs are rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants and provide fiber and smaller amounts of a variety of minerals. They may also support digestive, gut, and menstrual health, improve inflammatory conditions, aid weight management, and offer cancer protection.

How Many Figs Should I Eat a Day. A small handful, about 3 to 5 dried figs depending on the variety, provides 5 grams of dietary fiber or 20% of the Daily Value. Dried Fig benefits include being a high source of fiber and containing both soluble and insoluble fiber.

Figs are often recommended as a traditional remedy for various health problems. They act as a natural laxative because of their high fibre content. The fibre they provide also has prebiotic properties, feeding the gut bacteria and promoting a healthy gut environment which, as a result, improves digestive wellness.