Puzhou Green Persimmons

Puzhou Green Persimmons

　　Grown in the Puzhou and Hanyang areas of Yongji.

　　Yongji County was historically under the jurisdiction of Puzhou and has a long history of persimmon cultivation, with abundant varieties and a reputation as the “Land of Persimmons.” The cultivation history spans about 1,500 years, and during the Ming and Qing dynasties, local officials offered these persimmons as tribute to the emperor. The main varieties include green persimmons, small persimmons, cap persimmons, orange-honey persimmons, bright fruit persimmons, summer yellow persimmons, ox-heart persimmons, and small soft persimmons, among which the green persimmons are considered the best.

　　Puzhou green persimmons are large and flat in shape, resembling steamed buns, with an orange-yellow hue. They have thin skin, no seeds or pits, tender flesh, abundant juice, and a sweet, delicious taste. The fruit stem is relatively long, with a protrusion in the middle section. Persimmon cakes made from green persimmons are seedless, soft, and coated with a thick layer of frost. When broken apart, they can stretch out oil threads over 30 centimeters long. Placing a piece in a bowl, pouring tea over it, and covering the bowl for a few minutes will cause it to completely dissolve into a golden, honey-sweet liquid. These persimmons are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, glucose, and fructose, as well as minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. In 1981, they won the first-class Golden Plate Award at the Panama “Exposition Universelle.”