Bakor

About

Bakor is a variety from North Africa, specifically Morocco, with a distinguished reputation among fig collectors. The figs are medium, with thick dark purple to near-black skin and rich when finished, densely sweet flesh that ranges from deep amber to dark red. The flavour is complex — intensely sweet with undertones of dried fruit and molasses, but my experience was of complex honey flavor, which could be due to the early age. May develop further as time goes on. It is prized for both fresh eating and processing into fig preserves.

Growing Notes

• Vigorous tree — can reach significant size in open ground; regular pruning advised.
• Best suited to hot, dry climates; mirrors its native Moroccan growing conditions.
• Needs a long, hot season to fully develop the deep sugar content it is known for.
• Cold sensitivity moderate — protect from prolonged frost below −6 °C (21 °F).

My Notes

The molasses depth of flavour in a warm year is extraordinary — easily one of the most complex figs in the collection. In a cooler summer it can be a bit slow to ripen, but the wait is worth it.