By Liu Jiawen, compiled and reported
When the northeastern monsoon blows, it’s a sign that it’s time to feast on sweet persimmons. Many regions in Taiwan are known for their persimmon harvests. For example, Fanlu Township in Chiayi County is called the “hometown of persimmons,” while those grown on Mt. Motianling in Taichung City have an exceptionally high sugar content of up to 14 to 18 degrees. Many tourist orchards and farmers' associations in these production areas have launched fruit-picking activities as well as half-day and one-day tour packages, allowing visitors to enjoy both fun and the delicious taste of persimmons.
Fanlu Township, known for its abundant persimmon harvest, has developed a variety of persimmon-based products such as persimmon popsicles and persimmon ice cream. (Photo provided by Fanlu Township Farmers' Association)
This year is a bumper year for persimmons, with large, crisp, and sweet fruits. Fanlu Township in Chiayi County not only leads Taiwan in production volume but also accounts for over 80% of the national total. The area has also developed a variety of persimmon-based products such as persimmon popsicles, persimmon ice cream, and persimmon leaf health cakes. Mt. Motianling in Taichung City, at the source of the Da’an River, offers an ideal growing environment with clear, sweet water and significant day-night temperature variations, producing sweet persimmons with exceptional flavor.
It’s now peak persimmon season, with various production areas offering fruit-picking and persimmon-tasting travel activities. (Photo provided by Agri-Tourism Easy Go Network)
For those looking to go on a fruit-picking trip, the Ruanshipikeng Leisure Agriculture Area in Dongshi, Taichung, features multiple tourist orchards with persimmon-picking activities. Xinzhuang Township and Beibu Township in Hsinchu County, renowned across Taiwan for their persimmon cake processing, offer half-day, one-day, and two-day tour packages. The Manapang Leisure Agriculture Area in Dahwu Township also produces sweet persimmons, available through December, and with the attractive maple leaves on Manapang Mountain, it makes for a great destination for both fruit picking and autumn foliage viewing.