How to make figs sweeter

Ripe figs — A perfectly ripe fig with a honey drop sealing the ostiole (hole) is one of the tastiest treats in summer.

Yellow figs — Shriveled figs from a slight underwatered tree in summer

LSU gold figs — The summer figs are exceptionally sweet and easy to dry after picking.

Perfectly ripe and cracked LSU fig in summer

Celeste fig eaten by birds — Celeste Fig

Choose the most suitable and sweeter fig varieties for your region. They may be a little more costly, but worth the investment. Celeste and Chinese purple fig variety is one of the consistently sweet varieties. However, other types can be just as sweet.
Allow the fig tree to mature. Most fruit trees produce the best fruits at least 3-5 years after planting or transplanting.
Avoid the soil getting too dry by mulching and adding compost. Lack of water while the figs develop will cause the stalk to dry up. The figs will be immature and fail to ripen properly.
Avoid over-watering. Figs may become diluted if harvested after watering. Consider harvesting the fruits a few days after watering. In the rainy season, wait a few hours after the rains to allow the flavour to concentrate.
Harvest the figs when ripe. The stalk will droop, and honey may ooze from some fig varieties’ ostiole (opening). If unsure, taste one fig before harvesting the other figs.
Grow the figs in semi-shade to sunny locations. Some fruits are less sweet when grown in full shade.
Seasons may affect the flavour of figs. The winter harvest may be less sweet and take longer to ripen than the spring crop. The spring/ summer crop may be sweeter because of the heat. The fruits may shrivel and dry on the tree. However, some fruits may sour in the rainy season due to water entering the fruits in the varieties with open ostioles.
If figs are not well-ripened, roasting them over the fire or grilling them will caramelise the sugars and make them taste sweeter. Roasted figs make an excellent dessert or jam substitute.