Field guide · Late summer–autumn

Fig

Figo in Portugal, figue in France, fico in Italy, higo in Spain — but the more useful word is lampo. A fig tree crops twice: the figo lampo, which the French call the figue-fleur, ripens in June on last year's wood, and this, the main crop, ripens now on this year's. Watch for one more Portuguese trap — a figo-da-índia is not a fig but a prickly pear, off a cactus. Buy them soft, heavy and slightly split at the base; a firm fig has stopped sweetening and will never start again. Simplest thing to do with it: tear it open and eat it with something salty.

Noted 2026-08-03