Native to the Middle East and Western Asia, the fig tree has been sought out and cultivated by man since ancient times, and is now widely grown throughout the world, both for its fruit and as an ornamental plant. They're teardrop-shaped, green or dark purple on the outside, with a reddish collection of jammy filaments inside. Figs are one of the oldest fruits in the world and are regarded as one of the earliest plants ever to be grown by modern humans.
You may be surprised to learn that figs aren't actually fruit at all; they're technically inverted flowers with all those seeds being individual flowers, sort of like an inside-out strawberry.
The fig is naturally rich in many health-benefiting phyto-nutrients, anti-oxidants and vitamins such as vitamin A, E and K. Figs are a good source of fiber and have long been used as a home remedy to promote digestive health. Figs are also full of phenolic acids and flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants.
