Persimmons in Pingshan

Persimmons in Pingshan

　　Persimmons are berry-like fruits of the Diospyros plant, originating in China and cultivated for over a thousand years.

　　Persimmons are an important fruit from widely grown orchard trees, mainly cultivated in the mountainous areas of Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hebei, and other regions. Persimmons were introduced to France and Mediterranean countries in the 19th century and later to the United States. Persimmon fruits are typically about 5 to 8 centimeters in diameter, ranging in color from yellow to red. They contain vitamin A and small amounts of vitamin C.

　　Persimmon trees can withstand temperatures as low as around minus 18 degrees Celsius. The American persimmon is native to the Americas, usually growing as a small tree though occasionally reaching up to 10 meters in height. Its fruit is flat, deep red to maroon in color, and 3 to 5 centimeters in diameter, usually containing several large, flat seeds. Through cultivation, many superior varieties of the American persimmon have been developed, surpassing the taste of Oriental persimmons.

　　There are over 1,000 varieties of persimmons, which can be classified into astringent and sweet types based on whether they naturally lose their astringency before ripening on the tree. The latter mainly includes the “winter persimmon” variety, which is already non-astringent when mature. The former (most persimmons available in China fall into this category) must be artificially treated to remove astringency before consumption. The astringency in astringent persimmons is primarily due to tannic acid (also known as tannin).