Figs
Here’s a list of fruits that can easily be mistaken for Figs (Pictured above) due to their shapes, colors, or skin textures:
1. Medlar
This small, round fruit has a brownish skin and an open calyx at the bottom, much like the “eye” of a fig. When fully ripe and softened (bletted), its wrinkled skin and mushy, dark brown interior closely resemble an overripe fig.
2. Black Sapote
Often called the chocolate pudding fruit, it has a round, squat shape and dark green to brown skin. Inside, its soft, blackish-brown pulp mimics the gooey texture and rich color of a very ripe fig.
3. Persimmon
Especially the Hachiya type, this orange fruit becomes jelly-soft when ripe. Its squat, bulbous form and smooth, custard-like flesh evoke the sweetness and mouthfeel of a fresh fig.
4. Azarole
This small fruit resembles a miniature apple but has a tender, edible skin and seedy center. When fully ripe, its soft and slightly grainy interior shares a fig-like texture and mouthfeel.
5. Betel Nut
Although much firmer than a fig, the cross-section of this nut reveals a marbled, fibrous pattern that loosely resembles the seeds and texture found inside a dried fig.
6. Mabolo (Velvet Apple)
Covered in soft, reddish fuzz, this round fruit is similar in shape to a fig. Its creamy, custard-like interior, though stronger in aroma, mirrors the soft consistency of fig flesh.
7. Santol
Santol’s thick, velvety rind encloses segments of juicy, fibrous pulp. The overall squat shape and segmented interior can look somewhat fig-like, especially when the fruit is cut open.
8. Ceylon Gooseberry
This dark purple, round fruit is about fig-sized and has a juicy, seedy interior. When sliced, its glistening pulp and seed-filled center resemble the inner cross-section of a fresh fig.
9. Dodder Laurel (Cassytha filiformis fruit)
This small, globular fruit is similar in size to a fig and often has a translucent, jelly-like interior. Though rarer, its structure and color can call to mind the fig’s seedy, glistening center.
10. Gabiroba
A tropical fruit with a rounded, fig-like shape and slightly rough skin. Its soft, juicy pulp and multiple seeds align with the look and texture of a small fig when cut open.
11. Genipa Americana
This fruit, also known as jagua, has a dull green exterior and a pulpy, darkening interior. Its soft texture when ripe and the seedy, jelly-like flesh make it visually similar to a fig.
12. Huito Berry
Round and dark when ripe, the huito has a juicy, inky-blue interior. Its small size and soft, pigment-rich pulp recall the dense, colorful flesh of certain fig varieties.