Manako

Manako is an extraordinary heirloom or seedling fig with deep historical roots, believed to be connected to Samuel T. Alexander, who arrived in Hawai‘i in the 1830s and became an avid collector of botanical treasures from around the world. Alexander traveled extensively through Hawai‘i, California, Europe, and China, bringing home rare plants to cultivate on his expansive properties. By the 1880s, he had planted thousands of unique specimens—including over 1,700 acres of Sevillano olives—in Happy Valley, California, the very location where this remarkable fig tree still grows today. The mother tree is over 100 years old, and Manako may be either a cutting he originally planted or a seedling descended from his imported varieties.

The fruit of Manako is as captivating as its history. Smaller in size—likely due to limited water access—the figs are packed with rich tropical intensity. The exterior carries flavors reminiscent of rhubarb pie and guava tart, leading into a vivid interior of mango-forward tones, intertwined with berry notes. The flesh displays a striking mosaic of deep yellow and red, creating a sunset-like pattern inside every fig.

When fully ripe, the skin becomes thin and tender while remaining resistant to cracking, even under variable moisture conditions. The flavor is lush, sweet, and complex: mango, berry, and tropical richness layered into one delicious bite.

A rare historical treasure with exotic flavor complexity, Manako is a fig that beautifully bridges past and present—a seedling worth preserving, savoring, and celebrating.

Message for Availability

• Availability: Out of Stock