North Township Persimmons

North Township Persimmons

　　Persimmons are flat and round in shape. Different varieties range in color from light orange-yellow to deep orange-red, with sizes between 2 cm and 10 cm and weights from 100 g to 350 g. They are mainly produced in Liangjiazhai Township, Xiashe Township, and Xipan Township of Yu County.

　　 Persimmons that are 80% ripe can be soaked in warm water, which helps remove their astringency and results in a crisper fruit, known by locals in Yu County as “lazy persimmons.” Persimmons are a popular fruit—sweet, rich in flavor, and highly nutritious. Many people also enjoy eating frozen persimmons in winter, which have a unique taste. Persimmons are very nutritious, containing about 1 to 2 times more vitamins and sugars than most other fruits. Eating one persimmon a day can provide nearly half of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. Therefore, consuming persimmons can be quite beneficial to human health.

　　 The persimmon fruit tastes sweet and astringent, is cool in nature, and non-toxic; the calyx of the persimmon is astringent, neutral in nature, and associated with the lung, spleen, stomach, and large intestine meridians;

　　 It has the effects of clearing heat, moistening the lungs, promoting fluid production, quenching thirst, strengthening the spleen, and resolving phlegm;

　　 Persimmons are used to treat coughs due to lung heat, dry mouth and thirst, vomiting, and diarrhea.

　　 Fresh persimmons have a cooling effect that helps stop bleeding; persimmon frost moistens the lungs and can be used for sore throat and mouth ulcers; persimmon calyxes help reduce nausea and vomiting; persimmon cakes soothe the stomach and help stop bleeding; persimmon leaves also help stop bleeding and are used to treat coughing up blood, bloody stools, general bleeding, and vomiting blood. Recent studies have found that both persimmons and persimmon leaves have blood pressure-lowering, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and hemostatic effects.