Breva

Breva

Today we are going to talk about brevas. The fig tree is the tree that contains them and its scientific name is Ficus carica L. It belongs to the Moráceas family and in this family there are more than 1.500 species of trees and shrubs with similar characteristics. Almost all of them are related to the large and fragrant leaves, of a green and shiny color and with the soft-type mother. It is native to the East and has been consumed for thousands of years in Grace and Egypt. Here in Spain it is also quite consumed for its pleasant taste.

We tell you more about the breva, from its characteristics to its properties and uses.

Key features

Fig tree with figs

Although the fig is considered a fruit, if we analyze it biologically it is a fruitlessness. Namely, it does not become a fruit as such, since it is a fleshy receptacle that is called in botany sycon. It has a shape similar to the pear and can support both male and female flowers. This fruit called drupeolas is completely edible. We eat the meatiest part and the seeds. In this case, it would be the stone of the fruit, but as we can see, it is very soft and is edible.

It has a quite sweet and pleasant taste and is quite well known. The exterior is green when it is still maturing and turns purple and black when it is mature. It also depends on the variety we are consuming. It is a fruit that gains flavor as it matures. It is not usually eaten green or while it is maturing because it is not so sweet and it does not have as much flavor.

There are some biferous-type fig trees that are called brevales or bacoreras that have a special characteristic. These are those trees that are capable of bearing fruit twice a year. The first takes place between the months of June and July and its fruit is the fig. But it is that in August until October the harvest continues to give us figs. Normally, common fig trees only bear one fig crop in the months of August and September. Therefore, these are special and more in demand.

Properties of the breva

Brevas and figs

The most common species of fig trees here in Spain are the Colar and the Goina. One of the main curiosities of this fruit that is not usually known is that the fig is really a fruit from the previous season. That is to say, they are fruits that do not come to fruition in the month of September and, when the heat appears in June, they develop until they become the fig. It can be said that it is a fig that could not bear fruit and that it has developed later.

Regarding the nutritional properties of the fig, it is necessary to highlight its high contribution in carbohydrates. It is one of the fruits that, together with the banana, provide more carbohydrates. Its fiber content is not far behind. Sometimes it is used as a low intensity laxative. The consumption of breva is quite interesting for children, adolescents and pregnant women who are breastfeeding.

Since it has a large amount of carbohydrates, it is widely used by athletes. It has a high content of easy to assimilate energy and is perfect to take after training sessions. It is not advisable to take before, since its high fiber content can play tricks on you in training.

Although it has a low amount in sodium, it provides a lot of potassium that is recommended for those who have hypertension and heart disease. On the other hand, potassium is not as recommended for people who have kidney failure.

It also has natural antioxidants such as vitamin A. It favors the fight against free radicals and helps reduce the risk of degenerative diseases and cancer. Due to its high fiber content, it can help reduce the effects of cholesterol absorption.

Breva cultivation

Breva cultivation

Among the requirements that the breva has at the time of its cultivation we find that can tolerate high and low temperatures well. You can find fig trees in different types of climate that are easily adaptable. For figs to have a commercial destination, the fig tree needs to be in specific climatic conditions.

The price of the fruits varies a lot in the market, depending on whether they are early or late figs. If there is a excessive humidity or high rainfall, the fruits are seriously damaged by greatly varying their quality. If you want to plant the fig naturally, it can only be marketed in those places that have a mild climate in winter (that is, it does not rain too much or there are frequent frosts) and that is hot in summer. The hot and dry Mediterranean climate is perfect for the fig tree.

It is not demanding on soils, as it is able to thrive in stony and arid soils. For the harvest to have better quality it is necessary that the soil has a high calcium content and that it is not too humid. If it gets puddled during watering, it will rot very easily, since it is sensitive to it.

The planting season takes place during the month of January. For extensive crops 8 × 8 frames are left and in intensive 5 × 5. At present, what is done is to plant as many fig trees as possible in order to achieve greater amounts of production and increase harvesting.

Curiosities

Fig bread

There has always been more appreciation for figs than figs. This is due to the fact that the harvest of the fig is much smaller and, therefore, it is more precious. Taste is less sweet and there is much less quantity. It is thought that it is so beloved because it is like the foretaste of what comes later, much tastier, the fig.

They can be used to consume directly (it is usually the preferred option), but there are also them to produce compotes, fig bread, jams, cakes, etc.

As you can see, the fig is a highly demanded and used fruit in many parts of the world.


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