Datian Persimmon Cake

Datian Persimmon Cake

Datian Persimmon Cake is a geographically protected product.

　　Datian Persimmon Cake

　　Datian Persimmon Cake is made from the fruit of the Guohe persimmon (processed into dried persimmons or persimmon cakes) grown in Datian Town, Wuhua County. It has a history of over 300 years. Datian Persimmon Cake boasts three main characteristics: first, the fruits are large with small and few seeds; second, the flesh is thick, soft, orange-red in color, honey-like in taste, and does not harden even after long-term storage; third, it is highly nutritious, containing invert sugar and free acids, mannitol and vitamin C, among others, and has medicinal effects such as moistening the lungs, strengthening the stomach, and lowering blood pressure. The distinctiveness of Datian Persimmon Cake is attributed not only to the local climate, soil, and planting techniques but also to the careful processing. The persimmons are picked after they have fully accumulated nutrients. On clear, sunny days, the peeled fruits are placed on bamboo sieves to dry in the sun for three to five days. They are then individually kneaded into a thick paste, followed by about 30 days of sun-drying during the day and exposure to dew at night until most of the moisture evaporates and a natural white powdery sugar (commonly known as persimmon frost) forms on the surface. This results in a persimmon cake that is orange-red in color, has a thick and soft texture, and offers the aroma of honey.

　　Legend has it that Datian Persimmon Cake was already an imperial tribute during the Ming Dynasty. In 1959, it was sent to the Beijing Agricultural Exhibition Hall as an exhibit for the 10th anniversary of National Day and received high praise from central leaders and people from all walks of life. To allow more people to experience the unique flavor of Datian Persimmon Cake, the Datian Town established a Persimmon Cake Development Company and built several bases for producing persimmon saplings, persimmon fruits, and processing persimmon cakes. In December 1999, Datian Persimmon Cake participated in the Third National Famous, High-quality, and Special Fruit Product Exhibition held in Dongguan City, attracting numerous visitors with its uniqueness and novelty.