On 2014-04-14 3:50 PM, James Silverton wrote:

>>
> In some cases, personal preferences come into it. I kind of like dried
> up raisins even if I also like fresh grapes. It's a bit different for
> figs; I like dried figs but fresh ones leave me unimpressed.
>

They taste about the same and they can be plumped up again with a short
soak in warm liquid. The texture of "fresh" raisins is a little nicer.

I can't speak about fresh figs. I have never had one and don't know what
to look for to buy them. I once made the mistake of buying and eating an
under ripe persimmon. I understand that they are a special Christmas
treat for Italians and learned the hard way that they have to be fully
ripened. When I bit into one it had a texture like cotton batting and
had an astringent taste, the sort of taste you might associate with a toxin.