The Precious Persimmon

Picture taken by Amy Prosser

When I was little, I ate persimmons every year when my family visited my grandparents for Thanksgiving. My grandparents lived on a farm in Bakersfield, and they had a variety of fruit and nut trees on their large property. This included pomegranate, orange, lemon, lime, walnut, and of course, persimmon trees. While many people have never had a persimmon, I look forward to them every year during Autumn.

Before I describe the taste of these delicious fruits, I should note that there are actually two main types of persimmons: Hyacinth and Fuyu persimmons. Hyacinth persimmons look somewhat like giant orange acorns, while Fuyu persimmons look like short orange tomatoes. Hyacinth persimmons are meant to be eaten when they are soft and gushy, while Fuyu persimmons should be nice and crunchy (in the image here, I'm holding a Fuyu I just took a bite out of). There are also other varieties of persimmons, such as chocolate persimmons and cinnamon persimmons, but I've generally found that while they are tasty, they may not always be worth their high prices.

Picture taken by Amy Prosser

In the image shown here, the two persimmons on the left are Hyacinths. The one on the far left is ripe (they become a little shriveled as they ripen). The two persimmons on the right are Fuyu. When choosing a Fuyu persimmon, look for a nice orange color (not too yellow) and firmness with a little give when squeezed.

Persimmons generally taste like a cantaloupe and a pumpkin had a baby. Fuyu persimmons have a light sweetness to them, which complements their crispy, pulpy texture nicely. Hyacinth persimmons are syrupy-sweet when ripe, and their flesh is so soft it's almost all liquid. I don't know of another fruit you eat that is as wet and messy as a ripe hyacinth persimmon. Sadly, not everyone likes persimmons. My boyfriend, Jeff, thinks they taste like soap. While I don't agree, they do leave a strange chalky taste in your mouth, increasingly so the more underripe they are. That chalkiness is almost like a lingering earthiness on your palate, one that I personally do enjoy.

If you want to try a persimmon for yourself, you can commonly find them at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and other specialty grocers in the months of October and November. If you have any Asian markets around, try there too as persimmons are more popular in countries like Japan, China, and Korea than they are here in the U.S. If you've never tried a persimmon before, I'd recommend trying a Fuyu persimmon first as they are easier to find pre-ripened and are generally more agreeable to people. Let me know what kind of persimmons you like in the comments below!