Dried Figs

• After opening, dried figs should be stored in a cool and a dry area. It’s important to open them up from the plastic bag for prolonged use.

• Avoid direct exposure to sunlight. This will change the taste and colour sooner rather than later.

• Refrigeration is recommended in hot and humid environments.

• Dried figs must be kept covered in airtight containers or shielded in heavy duty plastic bag to avoid direct contact of bacteria and micro-organisms.

• For extra long life, they must be kept in freezer. Foods kept constantly frozen at o°F, will keep safe for upto 18 months.

• Dried figs are rich in dietary fibre. 3 pieces of dried figs contain 5 grams of fibre, which accounts for about 20% of our daily requirement. It’s a natural laxative for preventing constipation and other digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome.

• High levels of antioxidants in dried figs helps to eliminate free radicals, hence preventing heart disease.

• Figs are believed to be very beneficial in preventing hypertension. It helps to restore the sodium-potassium balance inside the body, hence assisting in prevention of hypertension.

• Dried figs are a rich source of iron, just one dried fig can give you 2% of your daily iron requirement. Eating fig, increase levels of iron in the body, hence raising hemoglobin levels indirectly.

• Being calcium rich foods, eating figs can help improve bone density and strength.

• Figs are also helpful in enhancing libido in both men and women. Greeks used fig as a natural aphrodisiac. Figs were considered sacred fruit and were closely associated with fertility and love. Being loaded with minerals like zinc, manganese and magnesium, they play an important role in boosting reproductive health.

• High fiber content in figs make them good for people with diabetes. However dried figs are high in sugar content, so it’s advisable to consult a diabetologist, to enquire about the quantity of dried figs one can consume, if diabetic.

Dry figs have a limited shelf life, due to their high residual water content. Average shelf life varies from 4-6 months. However if recommended storage temperature and relative humidity (T<20° C & RH- 60-70%) are compiled with, dried figs may be kept for a few more months. If handled incorrectly, figs may become tacky, support yeast growth and give unpleasant odor.

Popularly known as “Angeer” in hindi, dried figs are a health fruit that has gained a lot of popularity off late. Although figs are generally seasonal fruits, they are available right through the year in dried form. They are lusciously sweet with a texture that combines the chewiness of their flesh, the smoothness of their skin and the crunchiness of their seeds. Dried figs are an excellent source of minerals like calcium, copper, potassium, manganese, iron, selenium and zinc. They also contain good levels of B-complex groups of vitamins such as niacin, pyridoxine, folates and panthothenic acid. Figs are higher in fiber than any other fresh or dried fruit per serving, containing about five to six grams per portion of three figs. They are particularly rich in soluble fiber like pectin, which has been proven effective in lowering cholesterol.

Jain dry fruits is fully committed to deliver selective quality of this afghan superfood, right to your dining table.