Cactus Figs

The cactus fig is one of the very few cactus fruits that have commercial importance. The fruits have a weight of 100 to 200 g, at a size of 4 to 10cm. They are slightly ovoid and flattened, with warty extrusions and thorns. The taste is sweet to slightly sour, similar to a pear, or it may be somewhat flat, in any case it is very refreshing. The fruit contains 7-10% sugar, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It also has 23mg% of vitamin C. It is claimed that cactus figs lower the cholesterol level.

Originally growing wild in Mexico and tropical America only, the fruit arrived in the Mediterranean in the 16. century and today is cultivated in all dry regions of the Tropics and Subtropics. The most important exporting countries are: Central and South America, South and Central Africa, Italy, Spain and other Mediterranean countries.