Sep 10 2008
Figs the False Fruit
The first thing my sister introduced to me after she came back from her business trip in Syria is figs…
I feel a little reluctant to try the fruit on the first look. But my sister and mum insisted me to give it try. Cautiously I gave a bite to figs and immediately I jumped into excitement. The fruit taste like heaven in the mouth. It is sweet and very nice to chew on.
Therefore, I can’t help it but to blog about figs. The figs look like this in the inside…
I have read about figs in the bible and at the back of my mind, I always thought fig tree looks like this… (a pine tree)
Well, I was wrong. Fig tree looks like this…
…
To feed my curiosity, I googled figs and I learnt a great deal about the tree and its fruit. Apparently, there are 800 species of fig tree. You can find them a lot in Middle East and some in Asia. I am not sure whether you can get it in Malaysia or not.
What really intrigue is that fig tree is actually a very symbolic tree. Do you know:-
1. Buddha received enlightenment under a kind of fig tree called Sacred Fig which is better known as Bodhi tree. I wonder whether Buddha ate the figs when he was meditating under the tree?
2. Another species of fig tree called the Common Fig is the first plant cited in the bible. Apparently Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves when they realized they are naked after they have fallen. Not itchy ‘meh‘ when cover with leaves?
3. In Hinduism, Banyan fig is considered as sacred.
4. Fig tree is also one of the two sacred tree in Islam.
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As for me, figs are as good as food for me… haha! I like figs :-).
Oh, by the way, figs are considered as the flower and not the fruit of the tree. It is called the false fruit or multiple fruit, where flowers and seeds grow together to form a single mass. In Chinese the fig is called “wú hua guo” or “fruit without flower”.
I was fortunate to taste the fresh figs since it’s almost impossible to get it in Malaysia. Thank you sis! However, if you really wanna know how does it look and taste like, you can find the dried fig in traditional Chinese drugstore. That is the best you can get here, as far as I know. Just tell them you want “wú hua guo”.
According to Juleen, figs are a kind of laxative and yes it was confirmed by Wikipedia. So the next time you have constipation, forget about fiber drinks or eating plums. Give “wú hua guo” a try. Guarantee you “pang sai” (in english: pass motion) non stop.
For more information, click here to know more about fig tree and the fruits.
Enjoy!!!
