Updated on November 11th, 2022
Persimmons have a unique flavour and texture. If you like their silken flesh and sweet-tart flavour, you might like other fruits like persimmon. Persimmons have a distinct flavour profile. When ripe, some varieties are soft with a smooth, creamy texture and tangy-sweet flavour; however, if even slightly unripe, it puckers the mouth with a strong astringency.
Others are ready when they are firm and lack astringency. They can be eaten raw or cooked, fresh or dried, and eaten by themselves or in baked goods, puddings, and other desserts. The edible fruits are high in glucose, vitamin A, and vitamin C, have a balanced protein profile and can be used medicinally as well as for cooking. Furthermore, persimmon wood has been used for a variety of purposes, including panelling in traditional Korean and Japanese furniture and the production of billiard cues.
Persimmons are bright reddish-orange fruits that ripen in the fall and early winter. It is thought that the persimmon originated in China.
Persimmon comes in two varieties: Fuyu, which is eaten when it is still hard like an apple, and Hachiya, which is eaten when it is very soft. Persimmons should only be eaten when ripe; otherwise, they will make your mouth pucker. Persimmons can be eaten raw or cooked into a variety of dishes such as cookies, puddings, bread, and cakes. The Fuyu persimmon is a colourful and tasty addition to any salad.
Here is a List of Fruits that are Similar to Persimmons that you Might Enjoy
1. Persimmons Hachiya
While not as sweet as Hachiya persimmon, Fuyu persimmon is an excellent substitute. They have around, squat shape and are typically eaten while still hard, similar to an apple. Fuyus are less tart and have a slightly different texture, despite being both delicious and nutritious. When buying a Fuyu persimmon, the most important thing to look for is taut skin that is free of blemishes.
The pulp of a Hachiya persimmon is naturally sweet and honeyed, and it can be pureed or frozen. Hachiyas can also be ripened on the counter to make a delicious puree. Hachiya puree can be mixed into baked goods or ice cream. If you can’t find them, you can substitute other fruits and make your own.
2. Fuyus
The Fuyus persimmon is a great substitute for the hachiya variety. Its soft, ripe flesh resembles that of an apple, but with a slightly more tropical flavour. While fuyu can be eaten before it ripens, its texture is less astringent when eaten raw. Fuyus are also less bitter than Hachiyas.
Other persimmon varieties are available in addition to the Fuyu persimmon. There are non-astringent Hachiya varieties that can be substituted in recipes. The Hiyakume varieties are the sweetest. Those who are sensitive to the astringency of the Hachiya variety should look for alternatives. If you can’t find a suitable substitute for Fuyuspersimmon, you can try Hiyakumeor chocolate persimmons
A Fuyus persimmon looks like an apple but has a crisp texture. It will make your salad more visually appealing and will keep your guests interested. When ripe, they add a wonderful cinnamon-and-brown-sugar flavour to your dish. It’s a great fall fruit and a great substitute for Hachiya persimmon. Check out Melissa’s persimmons for more ideas.
3. Sharon Fruit
Sharon fruit, a seedless variety of Fuyu persimmon, can be used to make a persimmon substitute. These fruits are edible and look and feel like tomatoes. They have a sweet and creamy flavour but lack the astringency and tannins of Hachiya persimmon. You can use them as a substitute for persimmon in salads, bake them in pies, and even use them in recipes that call for persimmon.
4. Medlar
There are many fruits that are only edible when completely ripe. Persimmons are an excellent example of this, as unripe fruits are nearly inedible. Medlars, on the other hand, are only edible when they are about 0.05 seconds from rotting. You’re in for a treat if you can perfectly ripen them through a process known as “bletting.”
When they’re fully ripe, they have a persimmon-like velvety texture that’s absolutely stunning. They’re both sweet and acidic, and they’re delicious both fresh and preserved. As a dessert, combine them with oat cream or make jam to spread on toast.
5. Sapote Noir
Do you know how persimmons’ flesh has a soft, squidgy texture? If you like that, you’ll probably like black sapotes as well. They taste like chocolate pudding with a hint of caramel and are almost buttery in texture. That flavour profile may appear to be too good to be true, but it is.
These should be available at your local Mexican or South American grocery store. Eat them fresh by scooping out the flesh with a spoon, as you would a pudding cup. Just eat them by yourself unless you want to share them with others.
6. Sapodilla
These fruits may sound similar to sapotes, but they are entirely different species. In terms of shape and colour, they resemble persimmons rather than sapotes. However, the similarity ends when it comes to the texture and flavour of the flesh. A sapodilla’s interior is sweet and grainy, similar to a pair mixed with brown sugar.
Unripe sapodillas, like unripe persimmons, can leave a strange, chalky aftertaste in your mouth. You’ll need to get really ripe ones to fully appreciate their pumpkin pie-like flavour. Search for them.
7. Quince
While quinces do not resemble persimmons in appearance, their flavour profiles are very similar. The flesh of both fruits has sweet and acidic notes, but quinces are grainier. Persimmon flesh, on the other hand, is softer and more slippery, similar to that of roasted red pepper. The main distinction is that quinces cannot be consumed raw.
Poach some fresh quinces if you can get your hands on them. This is the most effective way to balance their acidity while enhancing their flavour. Make a simple syrup with 1 cup sugar and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and poach the quartered quinces for an hour. When they turn pink, you’ll know they’re ready.
8. Orange Peach Tomatoes
Some of the fruits that look the most like persimmons are actually tomatoes. You’ve probably noticed that there are hundreds of tomato varieties available. The “Orange Peach” variety is a rare heirloom hybrid. It grew naturally on a farm in Pennsylvania and resembles a fully ripe persimmon.
These tomatoes are delicious raw, but even more so when transformed into sauces. You can use them in both sweet and savoury recipes, such as salsa and jam.
What are Some Recipes Where Persimmon are Used?
Persimmon and Bresaola Bites
A modern take on prosciutto and melon, wedges of firm Fuyu persimmon wrapped in paper-thin slices of bresaola (an Italian air-dried beef). There is no recipe required.
Steamed Persimmon Pudding
This spiced cake is steamed slowly on the stovetop and served warm, in the style of traditional English winter puddings. The batter contains soft (to the point of mushy) Hachiya persimmons with a deep, sweet flavour. Once the cake has been baked and removed from the mould, garnish with dried Fuyu persimmon slices.
Persimmon and Brie Crostini
These no-recipe toasts are the ultimate fruit and cheese appetizer, simple yet elegant. A quick broiler turn brings out the flavour of the persimmon and melts the cheese perfectly.
Persimmon, Beet, and Citrus Salad
Salads with a variety of textures, flavours, and colours are the best. Toss all of the ingredients together or arrange them as a composed salad. The sweetness of fuyu persimmons and beets balances the citrus’s sunny acidity and crisp, bitter greens, hitting all the right notes.
Frozen Persimmon Custard
Another no-recipe persimmon idea and the best one-ingredient fall dessert. Firm Fuyu persimmons can be softened and preserved by freezing them for eight hours (or up to a month). To serve, use a serrated knife to cut off the tops and spoon out the sweet, custard-like frozen fruit. Soft Fuyu and Hachiya varieties can also be frozen, and the flesh will be soft enough to blend into a recipe once defrosted.
Pork with Persimmons and Mustard Greens
A pork roast with greens and persimmons makes a lovely (and easy) autumn dinner. Use firm or semi-firm fuyu persimmons; they’ll soften in the oven before being seasoned with sizzling pork fat and splashed with an amber, nutty Marsala wine.
Persimmon Compote
Firm or semi-firm Fuyu persimmons poached in a bewitchingly spiced syrup with cinnamon and star anise will be a treat spooned over vanilla ice cream. Serve immediately or make ahead and refrigerate.
Mixed Chicories with Persimmons
This salad is a perfect late-fall and winter dinner salad, with bitter greens softened by sweet fuyu persimmons, walnuts, and bright pomegranate seeds.
Broiled Persimmons with Mascarpone
This deceptively simple dessert is a delightful way to cap off a winter meal. Ripe Fuyu persimmons are halved, drizzled with honey, and caramelized in the oven.
Persimmon Fruit Leather
When you combine persimmons and pineapple, your favourite childhood snack becomes far more sophisticated.
Persimmon and Escarole Salad
Sweet-tart persimmons and buttery pistachios elevate a simple green salad. It’s the ideal way to round out any autumn meal.
What are Some Other Common Names for Persimmons?
Here are some common names that are used to name Persimmons. People know this fruit by the name they call it in their region.
- Diospyros kaki
- American persimmon
- Diospyrosvirginiana
- Possumwood
- Berry
How can you Tell if a Persimmon has been Spoiled?
Persimmons that have gone bad will have a strong odour. Fresh persimmons have a pleasant aroma. If it smells anything other than sweet, it’s probably bad and you should throw it away. When ripe, good persimmons will have a sweet, mild, and rich flavour.
What is the Godly Fruit?
Persimmons were known as the “fruit of the gods” by the ancient Greeks and with reason.
Here are a Few Reasons:
Persimmons may help you improve your vision
Persimmons contain a high concentration of vitamin A, which is required to improve eyesight and vision health. Vitamin A is a necessary component of the light-absorbing protein rhodopsin, which aids in the normal function of your cornea and conjunctival membranes. Vitamin A may also benefit your heart, kidneys, and lungs health.
Persimmons may help to boost your immune system
Persimmons are a good source of vitamin C, which helps to boost your immune system. Vitamin C may not only protect you from the common cold, but it may also increase collagen production, which may improve skin elasticity, speed healing, and produce antioxidants in the body. Vitamin C may also help to prevent the development of certain cancers, as well as asthma and cardiovascular disease.
Persimmons may help to maintain a healthy digestive system
Fibre may benefit your digestive system. Fortunately, persimmons are high in fibre! Fibre can help you avoid constipation and regulate your bowel movements. Persimmons also contain tannins, which are polyphenols that aid in protein digestion, speed up metabolism, and provide relief from diarrhea. Tannins can also be used to treat mouth and throat inflammations.
Diabetes may benefit from persimmons
Persimmons may also be beneficial to diabetics! Proanthocyanidin, carotenoids, tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanidin, catechin, and other bioactive molecules found in persimmons fight diabetes, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular disease. Because persimmons are high in fibre, they may help reduce hunger, which is a major issue for diabetics. Persimmons can also help with blood sugar regulation.
Persimmons can boost your energy levels
Because of their high levels of potassium and electrolytes, persimmons are a natural energy powerhouse. Many clinical trials have shown that increasing your potassium intake can lower your blood pressure, protecting your body from cardiovascular diseases like stroke. Aside from these incredible health benefits, a single glass of persimmon juice can provide you with the energy you need to get your day started right!
Why do Persimmons Cause Cottonmouth?
Persimmons with a high tannin content pose a health risk. They could clump and clog up in your stomach, forming a bezoar. The tannin reacts with the acid, causing it to become fuzzy and clumpy in your mouth. This strange sensation is caused by proanthocyanidins, also known as tannins, which exist in unripe fruit. Tannins are astringent, so eating an unripe persimmon will make your mouth feel very dry.
What do Persimmons Mean?
The persimmon fruit has an orange appearance that is somewhere between an orange and a tomato. As a result, the fruit is a fortune symbol intended to convey to recipients business success and career advancement. The persimmon plant, as a plant, represents kindness and longevity.
What Causes Persimmon Black Spots?
Don’t be alarmed if some persimmons have black spots or specks. The spots are harmless, weather-related, and only skin-deep. They do not penetrate the flesh and have no effect on the fruit’s cooking or eating quality. This astringency disappears when the fruit is very soft and ripe.
Conclusion
Many of the fruits listed here, such as persimmon, can be used in similar ways. They may not be identical in appearance or flavour, but they can serve as adequate substitutes in a pinch. Furthermore, they complement each other well in a variety of dishes. Serve quinces and sapotes as part of a lovely vegan dessert platter, for example. Alternatively, use medlar jam as a base for tomato tarts.
Combine sapodilla, horchata, and coconut yogurt in your next smoothie. Use your imagination to determine which of these you prefer. Like these, many of the recipes are also mentioned above, give them a try!
