String Figs (Dried)

• Figs are the dried produce or fruit from a fig tree
• They come in various sizes and shapes depending on the species of tree it grows from
• Figs are slightly crunchy in texture and contain many seeds
• String figs will store for months in an air-tight container in the cooler.

How do I prepare it?

• Remove from package and clean with COLD water
• If you want to eat them as well, you may prefer to snip off the stems before usage
• To use figs in Chinese soups, you HAVE to put them into COLD water (before boiling) or else they will turn sour in the soup

Where can I buy this?

• Virtually in any supermarket (doesn’t have to be Asian)
• They come prepackaged and are usually imported from warmer climate areas as that is where the fig trees grow

What is the cost?

• On average a package of 14 oz String Figs is around $3.99 USD

Any benefits?

• Figs are good for their high protein and high carbohydrate food source
• They are also high in fibre and and are helpful in weight management
• They help sweeten a soup without the addition of sugar

Any precautions?

• As in the preparations above, put the figs into COLD water prior to boiling the soup or they will sour the soup

I don’t use figs often in soups because there are also many substitutes for the fig in Chinese soups, but if you want to have a bit of variety and like eating them, then you can by all means use this fruit.  My mother will use them ALL the time in her soups because they are so readily available in North America.

Another type of dried figs (more commonly used in soups than string figs, but both are OK)