Geography
As for the Asian variety, it’s still not that common to come across persimmons in your local market, probably owing to a couple of factors. One, persimmons do not ship well and when they do ship they are often sent unripe. Two, because of its mild climate and a history of persimmon cultivation, California commercially grows the most fruit in the U.S. — and not much at that. For the most part, the persimmon remains an exotic fruit either foraged in the wild, grown for small scale commercial production or grown as an ornamental tree.
Eating persimmons
Storing
To ripen your Hachiya, store leaf side down on your kitchen counter. This process can take days and should not be rushed lest you get a mouthful of tannins. Fuyus, however, need to maintain a crisp consistency and are better stored in the refrigerator.
Cooking
There are two shortcuts you can take to hasten ripening. One, you can place a persimmon in a sealed container with an apple or banana, two fruits that produce ethylene gas that will soften a Hachiya in about three to four days. The other technique is to freeze unripe persimmons. Upon fully thawing out, the persimmon is ready to eat when jelly soft, but there are some divisions on whether this shortcut is worth the effort. Allegedly the taste of a thawed persimmon is no match for one that has patiently ripened on your counter or a tree.
While being careful to properly ripen, persimmons are best eaten raw. The Fuyu can be sliced up and added to salads or eaten out of hand like an apple. Fans of the Hachiya praise its pudding-like consistency when fully ripened, using a spoon to scoop out the interior. In fact, the high pectin content in persimmons has historically been used to make jelly and as a thickening agent. The fruit can also be added to muffins and cakes.
Preserving
Freezing and dehydrating are an excellent way to preserve your persimmon haul. If you have some time on your hands, the traditional Japanese way to preserve persimmons, calledhoshigaki, is to string them up and massage them daily for three to five weeks until soft and chewy. You can also makepersimmon jelly.
Nutrition
The persimmon is an excellent source of Vitamin A and C. One fruit provides 55 percent and 21 percent of daily recommended values respectively. They are also a good source of fiber and manganese. If the taste wasn’t enough, people should steer clear of unripe persimmons because the tannins, stomach acid and indigestible plant material can form a bezoar: a hard mass that can lead to gastric obstruction and surgery.
FAQs
PERSIMMON PROGNOSTICATING
If you see a spoon shape, there will be a lot of heavy, wet snow to scoop. A fork shape means light, powdery snow and a milder winter. If you see a knife, you can expect to be "cut" by cold, icy, windy weather.
What is the persimmon seed trick? ›
Cut open the seeds of a ripe persimmon. If the seed is spoon-shaped, expect a lot of snow. If the seed is knife-shaped, expect cold, cutting weather. And if the seed is fork-shaped, a mild winter is predicted.
How to pick the right persimmon? ›
Whatever the variety, choose persimmons that have deep, saturated colours. In the case of astringent persimmons, the fruit is ripe when the entire skin is bright orange and it has a hom*ogeneous colour. It is important to observe that there are no areas darker than others (it is a sign that it is over ripened).
What do persimmons say about winter this year? ›
The Persimmon Lady's 2021-22 Winter Forecast
Here's what the seeds revealed: This year's seeds (2021-22) revealed the following: all forks and 1 knife. Translation: a mild winter with an ice event for North Carolina.
What is the superstition about persimmons? ›
Persimmon folklore: If you split open a persimmon seed, you can examine the cotyledon, and depending on if it's shaped like a fork, spoon or knife, it can forecast the weather. A fork equals a mild winter. A spoon means get ready to shovel some snow. If you find a knife, winter will be cutting cold.
What is a persimmon slang? ›
Describing someone as a persimmon, or a 柿子 shìzi, in Chinese, is the same as calling them a pushover or a softie in English.
What is the persimmon tree wives tale? ›
If the kernel is spoon-shaped, expect plenty of snow to shovel. If it is fork-shaped, plan on a mild winter with powdery, light snow. If the kernel is knife-shaped, expect frigid winds that will “cut” like a blade.
What does the spoon, fork, and knife mean in a persimmon? ›
The persimmon seed may either have a fork, knife, or spoon shape on its inside. The fork is said to stand for a mild winter, while the knife shape means that there will be fridged winds. The spoon shape is supposed to represent a shovel and therefore you could expect plenty of snow in the upcoming winter.
Should persimmons be refrigerated? ›
It is best to store them at room temperature. Ripe persimmons are best eaten immediately, but you can refrigerate them for 1 or 2 days. Unripe persimmons will keep in the refrigerator for up to one month. Keep refrigerated persimmons unwashed in a plastic bag.
How many persimmons can you eat a day? ›
Persimmons may cause allergies in some people. Additionally, excessive consumption of persimmons can also lead to intestinal blockages, diarrhoea, vomiting, and other types of stomach related problems. Therefore, it is best to eat only one persimmon in a day.
Yes, dogs can safely eat persimmon fruits as an occasional treat. While dogs can consume persimmon skin, they should not eat the seeds because these cause digestive problems. In addition, you should only feed your dog a few slices or a small handful a day, as large amounts of persimmons can lead to an upset stomach.
What month is persimmon season? ›
Just be sure to catch them while you can! They are in season from October through January. What to look for: Two common varieties are Hachiya and Fuyu; they differ slightly in appearance but have unique textures and flavors. Hachiya persimmons are round with one pointy end (think: super-sized acorn).
Why did all my persimmons fall off the tree? ›
The reason persimmons fall from the tree before they ripen is the result of parthenocarpy, which a fascinating botanical phenomenon. Parthenocarpy (a word that combines “parthenos,” meaning virgin, and “karpos” meaning fruit) is the production of fruit without fertilization.
Do persimmon trees bear fruit every year? ›
Planting in Food Lots or Along Food Plot Edges
Also, it will be another 10 to 15 years before the female trees produce fruit every year, since young trees usually only produce fruit every other year. The common persimmon, left, compared to a Japanese persimmon.
What is the old wives tale about persimmon seeds? ›
Persimmon seeds
"If it's shaped like a spoon, you're going to get a lot of snow. If it's shaped like a fork, maybe a lighter snow," said Morgan. "If it looks like a knife, it's going to be cutting or very harsh cold temperatures."
What is the folklore about persimmons? ›
Legends claim that by slicing the ripe fruit's seed open and examining the shape found inside, one of three shapes may be found in the heart of the seed: a fork, a spoon, or a knife. Sliced persimmon seeds from a previous winter showing spoons, the coldest possible prediction.
What is the meaning behind persimmon? ›
The English common name is derived from the Algonquin language, in which the word persimmon means “dried fruit.” Diospyros kaki is the species of persimmon most widely planted throughout the temperate world. The wild trees native to China had fruit that were small, astringent (bitter), and very seedy.
What does the persimmon fruit symbolize? ›
Persimmons carry a rich cultural significance, often associated with luck and prosperity. In many cultures, the fruit is a symbol of perseverance, reflecting a deep understanding of inner strength.
