The persimmon, sometimes called the “apple of the Orient,” is a spherical or acorn-like, smooth-skinned fruit that ranges from a light yellow-orange to a brilliant orange-red. Except for the seeds, the entire fruit is edible. Persimmons are an excellent source of vitamin A (carotenes) and are a good source of vitamin C and fibre. Persimmons contain health-benefiting flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants such as catechins and gallocatechin in addition to having an important anti-tumour compound, betulinic acid. Catechins are found to have anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhagic (prevents bleeding from small blood vessels) properties.
Did you know?
Oriental persimmon trees are self-pollinating and also can produce seedless fruits from unfertilized flowers. The inconspicuous flowers are cream-coloured or pink.
Storing Pears
Mature, hard, astringent persimmons can be stored in the refrigerator for several months. Non-astringent varieties have a short shelf span and can be stored for only a few days at room temperature. Ripe fruit can be refrigerated for 2 to 3 days. Freezing astringent persimmons and thawing them the next day also may help remove some of the astringency.
2002. Encyclopedia of foods. San Diego, Calif.: Academic Press
Nutrition And You.com. 2022. 7 awesome Persimmon fruit Nutrition facts and Health benefits. [online] Available at: <https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/persimmon-fruit.html> [Accessed June 2022].