The Honey Fig Flavor Profile: Its Varieties & Meaning
Updated: Jan 31
To help new growers choose fig varieties, experienced growers have grouped similar-tasting figs into flavor profiles (Sugar, Honey, and Berry). However, these are guidelines, not strict rules, as growing conditions, harvesting at the proper time, and pollination can influence their taste.
Figs have a complex flavor–a mix of dried fruits, melons, berries, and sugar. There are over 1000 varieties of figs, each with its own unique flavor. If you haven’t already, read about the different fig flavor profiles and what figs taste like in the article linked below.
This article is about the “Honey” fig flavor profile.
The Honey Fig Flavor Profile
Honey figs are aptly named because they often look like they’re filled with honey. When fully ripened, many fig varieties develop a translucent, golden nectar that pools inside, sometimes even seeping out through the eye of the fruit solidifying into a "drop of honey." This syrupy nectar, resembling honey in its thickness and glossy sheen, gives the impression that the fig is filled with honey.
However, in terms of taste, honey figs do not replicate the rich depth of bee-produced honey. Instead, they offer a unique sweetness that blends melon, dried fruit, and floral-like flavors with varying sugar flavors like agave, honey, brown sugar, cotton candy, bubblegum, and more.
Subcategories of Honey Figs
Despite the misleading name, honey figs have a lot of similarities to sugar figs, depending on the specific variety and growing conditions.
Some honey figs lean heavily into the fresh, sweetness of melon and agave, while others develop darker "sugar fig" notes reminiscent of dried fruit and light brown sugar. Others can even produce fruity notes like "Fruity Honey" flavor profile.
Keep in mind that the texture of a fig's nectar can also differ, with some figs producing a thinner, runnier syrup, while others develop a denser, honey-like consistency. Factors such as soil composition, climate, and ripeness at harvest significantly influence these variations, making each honey fig variety unique in its expression of sweetness.
Because of this diversity, I recommend cultivating multiple honey fig varieties to experience the full range of flavors they can provide.
Here are the varieties that fall under this category:
Kadota
The Kadota fig is a very popular fig variety in the US. Also well-known as Peter’s Honey in the US, as Dottato in Italy (its true name), and Moscatel Branco in Portugal, it might just be the most important fig variety throughout human history.
Related: The Fig Tree: Exploring its Fascinating Fig Wasp, Pollination, History, Types of Figs & other Ficus
In California, the Kadota fig was once responsible for over 3,000 tons of production annually, with 7,500 tons of fresh figs being canned. According to Gallesio, a notable Italian botanist who documented many fruit varieties, Dottato is an ancient fig praised as far back as Roman times by Pliny the Elder. This long history suggests that the Kadota has been a commercial success, particularly for drying purposes, for over 2,000 years—making it a rarity among fig varieties. None other has such a rich history.
Those who grew up with the Dotatto fig are deeply familiar with it—it’s the standard they associate with "white" or "light-skinned" figs.
It was my grandfather’s favorite, and I’ve come to appreciate it as well, particularly for the contrasting textures between its skin and pulp. The syconium remains slightly firm, while the pulp offers a rich, jammy thickness. Despite its qualities, I find it somewhat underrated. It ripens early, and most strains reliably produce a consistent and high-quality breba crop.
I highly recommend Dotatto for a variety of climates, though it can struggle during rainy periods. To prevent issues, harvest the figs before the rain. Remarkably, it’s one of the few varieties that still tastes excellent even when slightly underripe.
White Marseilles
White Marseilles' eating experience is among the best honey figs you can eat. Alongside Kadota, it's a classic honey fig variety in the US. It's reliable, early, hardy, and rain-resistant making it adapted to a wide range of climates. The texture is often fluffy, rich, and even caramel-flavored in the right conditions.
White Marseilles is grown all over the world, but despite its many positive attributes, but doesn't receive the attention it deserves among fig hobbyists due to its lack of a fancy or "rare" name.
The variety is easy to identify by its distinctive features like the white interior pulp color contrasting its brown seeds, the fig's shape and ribs, and the sandpapery texture of its leaves, which are somewhat similar to Hardy Chicago.
The flavor profile of White Marseilles is predominantly sweet, reminiscent of brown sugar, melons, and honey, with a hint of dried fruit. The slight bitterness in the skin adds complexity to its taste, balancing the sweetness and enhancing the overall flavor experience.
White Marseilles is also historically significant as Thomas Jefferson grew it at Monticello.
Barbillone
Barbillone is a dark-skinned mutation of White Marseilles. Branches or individual buds on fig trees sometimes mutating and creating variations from the mother tree.
Zaffiro
This is my favorite honey fig. It offers a richer, more complex honey flavor, complemented by a unique coconut-flavored skin and a citrusy acidity that adds subtle berry notes. Other figgy flavors also come through, creating a perfect balance between the two profiles. On top of that, it's a highly productive tree with excellent rain resistance.
LSU Gold
LSU Gold is an offspring variety of Celeste bred by LSU in their breeding program back in the 1950s. It's large, often a poor choice in humid locations, but tasty when you can harvest at peak ripeness.
LSU Purple
LSU Purple is one of the most underrated fig varieties because it does not tolerate periods of dry soil. The figs will not fall off, but they won't ripen properly. After a few years, LSU Purple will reach maturity and the trait no longer becomes a concern.
When properly ripened, LSU Purple is like eating fig jelly combined with melons, mild berries, honey, brown sugar, and cinnamon. The skin can have an interesting spicey flavor contrasting nicely with the sweet pulp and adding complexity.
As for growing characteristics, the hang time is shorter than average leading to a more consistent ripeness. It also has strong rain resistance but can split slightly at the eye. It's a hardier tree, ripens early, and is one of the only known varieties to be resistant to root-knot nematodes, making it a valuable rootstock. RKN is a huge problem in the Southern part of the US. There, fig varieties are difficult to grow.
LSU Champagne
This is a top-performing honey fig. Why? It has a super short susceptibility window or hang time that allows it to completely avoid rainy days during the warmer part of the growing season. However, unlike its parent, Celeste, LSU Champagne cannot withstand moisture well, so be sure to harvest before rain events.
Related: Fig Varieties with a Short Hang Time | The Most Important Characteristic in Humid & Mild Climates
Get them perfect and they actually can be quite fruity, and taste like dates and vanilla!
Yellow Long Neck, Long Yellow & Golden Rainbow
These fig varieties are likely synonyms. Each produces a large yellow-skinned fig with amber/white pulp. They also produce massive fruits—the largest of their type—and are sure to make any Italian Grandpa proud. Hugely popular on the West Coast, their reputation is spreading quickly, thanks in part to Robert and Ben B. in Seattle. Despite their impressive size, they’re surprisingly early to ripen, which is a rare and valuable trait for such a large fig. With its striking size and tough skin, it has solid commercial potential.
The flavor is quite a striking comparison to other honey figs as it's the most mild, refreshing, and not overly sweet.
A commercial variety called Constantine d'Algerie might also be a synonym.
Koura Black
Koura Black is an intriguing honey fig introduced to the fig community by Bass, known for discovering unique Middle Eastern fig varieties. Its exact origin is unclear, but the variety stands out for its elongated shape, downward-facing, closed eye, and excellent rain resistance, making it a solid choice for humid climates. Unfortunately for growers in these areas, Koura Black has a longer-than-average hang time similar to Golden Rainbow.
Ripening around mid-season, the fig has a unique interior—a light honey-colored pulp with hints of red near the center—and offers a thicker texture compared to many other honey figs. While the flavor is sweet and interesting, the skin adds a subtle bitterness and a slight spiciness reminiscent of LSU Purple.
La Magdeleine
This variety was discovered by Thierry of Figues du Monde in France and produced its first fruit for me in 2019 on an in-ground tree. I’ve found it to be quite early, reliable, and impressively rain-resistant—a fantastic honey fig overall. Its flavor and characteristics remind me somewhat of Campaniere, making it another excellent addition to the honey fig category.
