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Persimmon Fruit - Vitamin-rich and Healthy

Persimmon Fruit - Vitamin-rich and Healthy

The persimmon fruit originates from Asia, where it has been cultivated as a robust and popular plant for over 2000 years. It belongs to the family of date plums and ebony trees. There are more than 500 known varieties in total, mainly thriving in tropical and subtropical regions. In our fruit and vegetable stores or supermarkets, you'll usually find the orange-colored fruits of the persimmon tree (Diospyros kaki), which resemble tomatoes in shape. When fully ripe, they taste delightfully sweet and aromatic. As the fruit ripens, the flesh becomes softer, almost liquid. The relatively firm skin of the persimmon still holds the soft flesh together, and after cutting, it can be easily scooped out like a delicious dessert. If the persimmon is not ripe yet, it tastes astringent and leaves a furry feeling on the tongue. This is due to the presence of tannins, which are still in too high a concentration in the fruit when it is hard.

Which tree does the persimmon fruit actually come from?

The persimmon tree (Diospyros kaki) thrives best in tropical and subtropical regions, where it originally comes from. However, robust cultivars of this plant can also be grown in our latitudes. Especially in Spain, but also in Greece and other Mediterranean countries, trees of Diospyros kaki have been cultivated for some time. A persimmon tree can grow to be 10 to 20 meters or taller. In shape, it is roughly comparable to an apple tree. The young branches of Diospyros kaki show a dense hairiness, which can also be present on the undersides of the leaves.

Flowers develop on the persimmon tree from late spring into summer. The tree produces both female and male flowers. These can either grow together on one specimen of the plant or be dioecious, distributed on different plants (depending on the variety). The fruit is formed both with and without pollination. If no pollination occurred, the fruit does not produce seeds. Persimmon fruits with seeds are usually a bit larger.

Known as cultivated forms or varieties of persimmon are, among others, the honey apple, the persimmon, and the seedless Sharon fruit. The Sharon fruit contains little tannin and can be consumed as a hard fruit.

Juicy persimmons on a persimmon tree

Can you grow persimmons yourself as a plant or tree?

You can easily grow a persimmon tree from a seed. For this, the seed first needs a cold stimulus. This stratification can be achieved by storing the seed in the refrigerator for about 14 days. Afterward, it is planted in potting soil and placed in a warm location with sufficient water where young plants can develop. However, the seedling of this plant takes several years before bearing fruit.

For gardening in our latitudes, a cold-hardy persimmon is best suited. For garden cultivation, the cold-hardy variety Diospyros virginiana is recommended. It is suitable for outdoor cultivation even outside winegrowing areas. If the garden is in an area with harsh winters, the variety Diospyros Lotus is recommended. It is very robust and is often used as a grafting rootstock. The best time to harvest this delicious fruit from the local garden is after the first frost.

What to do if the persimmon has brown spots?

If a persimmon has brown spots, it is not necessarily a sign that it is no longer edible. If the fruit still feels firm and smells good, it can be consumed without hesitation.

Persimmon tree with fruit
Picked persimmons in a basket

What ingredients make the persimmon fruit so valuable?

Persimmons contain many valuable nutrients, including:

  • Beta-carotene
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamins B1, B2, and B3
  • High levels of potassium and iron
  • As well as the minerals sodium and calcium

Other valuable components include tannins, carotenoids, flavanols, and anthocyanidins. The fruit has cholesterol-lowering, anti-atherosclerotic, and antioxidant effects. Its antioxidant effects are enhanced when the fruit is heated.

Can a hard persimmon ripen?

Yes, if it is stored for a while. It is beneficial to store it near other fruits like apples or pears.

Can you eat the peel of a persimmon?

The skin of the persimmon is edible, although somewhat firm. If the fruits are not peeled, they should be thoroughly washed before eating.

Recipe for colorful fruit salad

No. of persons1 personNo. of persons
Total Timeca. 15 minutesTotal Time
Level of difficultyeasyLevel of difficulty
DishsnackDish
Calories300kcalCalories
VeganVegan
VegetarianVegetarian
Gluten-freeGluten-free
AlcoholAlcohol
Kakis in Glasschale
List of ingredients
1 handful nuts or roasted pumpkin seeds
2 tsp sugar (can also be brown sugar, birch sugar or maple syrup)
a few drops cognac for a special aroma
some lemon juice or orange juice
Fruit of your choice: bananas, grapes, apples, pears, strawberries, melon, citrus fruits, pineapple
Kochende Miss Oryoki
Preparation
Step 1

This recipe requires ripe persimmons and other different types of fruit such as bananas, grapes, apples, pears, strawberries, melon, citrus fruits and pineapple. You can try out a wide variety of combinations, simply using your favorite fruit and seasonal varieties. Each person needs around 200-300 g of fruit. This recipe is particularly quick and easy to prepare.

Step 2

Peel all the fruit as required and then cut into small, bite-sized pieces. Put everything together in a large bowl and mix carefully. If you like, you can now finish preparing the recipe and enjoy the persimmon salad.

Step 3

The fruit salad can be seasoned to taste with nuts, sugar and other ingredients.

Japanese Chopsticks view in the store »

Recipe for persimmon and coconut ice cream

No. of persons2 personsNo. of persons
Preparation time3h Preparation time
Total Timeca. 15 minutesTotal Time
Level of difficultyeasyLevel of difficulty
DishDessertDish
Calories300kcalCalories
VeganVegan
VegetarianVegetarian
Kitchenware Kitchenware
Persimmon and coconut ice cream in a cone
List of ingredients
3 kakis
1 can coconut milk
1 tsp sugar
Preparation
Step 1

Peel and dice the persimmons and place in the freezer for several hours.

Step 2

Chop the frozen pieces in a blender or with a hand blender and mix with the coconut milk.

Step 3

Add a little sugar if necessary. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Japanese recipes read in the magazine »

Dessert with yogurt and persimmon

No. of persons4 personsNo. of persons
Total Timeca.20 minutesTotal Time
Level of difficultyeasyLevel of difficulty
DishDessertDish
Calories150kcalCalories
VeganVegan
VegetarianVegetarian
MeatMeat
AlcoholAlcohol
Kitchenware Kitchenware
Khaki Joghurt
List of ingredients
2-3 ripe khakis, depending on size
500g yogurt
1 tsp sugar
Preparation
Step 1

The fruit is cut into small pieces or pureed and simply mixed with the yogurt and a little sugar or sweetener to taste.

Step 2

Serve in pretty bowls and garnish with a little mint or chocolate chips if desired.

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