American persimmon

Diospyros virginiana · Fruit

40 pairings

The American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a small, deeply sweet orange fruit native to the eastern United States, borne on a slow-growing tree of the ebony family. Mouth- puckeringly astringent until fully soft, it ripens to a honeyed, date-like richness and is eaten fresh, baked into puddings and brewed into beer.

Picking a good onedrag

UnderripeOverripe

Just gone softAstringency gone, honeyed and date-like under a thin skin. Spoon it straight from the skin, or sieve it to pulp for pudding; if it still puckers it is not ripe yet.Eat it now

ColourTranslucent orange-pink, the thin skin just beginning to slacken

The squeezeGives all the way in, jelly shifting under a thin skin

SmellHoneyed and date-like, warm and clean at the calyx

Reading a just ripe one. Move the slider and the rest of this page — nutrition, pairings — re-scores with it.

Preparing