Figs from the island of Evia

The story

Kymi is a city on the east coast of Evia Island.

It’s the birthplace of the medical doctor Georgios Papanikolaou (1883-1962) who invented the “pap test or pap smear” which is now used by gynecologists all over the world.

Thanks to its microclimate (dry, sea breeze but at the same time warm), it’s the ideal place to dry figs. Our figs suppliers is Askada Ltd.

Askada farm was established with love and respect to the special cultivar of figs that grows in Kymi.
Over the past years, Askada people have been operating a fig farm, next to Melas river. Their farm is dedicated to organic cultivation and committed to offer the unique flavour of these precious figs.
For Askada people, the notion “traditional” is of value as long as it’s accompanied by the principles of collaboration, cooperation and respect both to Nature and people.
Every August, a group of people get together and become a “family” that unites its forces and strengths to produce the Askada fig. The Kymi fig.
This premium (and precious!) organic fig is the main ingredient for all their artisanal gourmet products, that combine both inspiration and culinary culture with a nutritious aspect.

Kymi figs

The cultivation of the fig trees give fruit to the Kymi PDO figs.
PDO is the abbreviation of “Protected Designation of Origin” and this term is used to foods like cheese, wine etc that they are only produced in a specific place. Champagne produced in a very particular region in France) and Feta cheese (Greek product) are some examples of PDO foods.
Figs are an excellent source of minerals, antioxidants and dietary fiber.
Askada figs are free of any chemical fertilisers, preservatives and sulphur.

The drying process

Askada people harvest the ripe figs (around the end of August) by hand and only when they are fully ripe. They follow the ancient tradition: they cut the tiny stalk with a scissor and then tear the figs into halves. By doing this, they can make sure that the figs are “clean” inside (i.e., free of any bugs).
Once open-hearted, they place the figs under the sun so they dry slowly by absorbing all the beams of the Mediterranean light. When the figs are fully sundried, they unite two same-sized figs by pressing them together. By doing so, they create the “Askada fig”. The word Askada comes from the ancient Greek word “esxada” (meaning figs) and in the local Kymi’s dialect, Askada means “the final shape of two sun-dried figs opened and pressed together, thus becoming one”.

Askada people produce figs and a number of products based on figs.
All their products are here.

American Heart Association (AHA) reports about the nutritional value of figs:

“Are figs good for you? Get the whole sweet story”