Persimmons
Network for a Healthy California
Tulare County Office of Education
Reasons to Eat Persimmons
Half of one medium persimmon provides:
An excellent source of vitamin A
A good source of fiber and vitamin C
A source of many antioxidants and
phytochemicals
Reasons to Eat Persimmons
What are phytochemicals
and antioxidants?
Phytochemicals
• They are found only in plants
• Different phytochemicals give
fruits and vegetables their bright
colors
• They help strengthen our
immune system and may help
lower the risk of heart disease
and some types of cancer
Antioxidants and Free Radicals
Antioxidants are a group of vitamins, minerals,
and phytochemicals that may lower
the risk for some diseases by keeping the
body safe from free radicals.
Free radicals are a type of waste the body
makes when it makes energy
from the food you eat.
Antioxidants and Free Radicals
Free radicals can hurt the body’s cells.
Removing free radicals from the body may
lower the risk of some types of cancer and
help keep the immune system healthy.
Do you agree that antioxidants
are important for good health?
There are ancient references to the
persimmon as “food for the gods”.
Why do you think the
persimmon was referred
to this way?
Persimmons are in the genus
Diospyros.
“Dios” means God and “pyros”
means grain or food in Latin.
The persimmon is Japan’s national fruit and
part of their New Years
celebrations.
The Art of Hoshigaki
Hoshigaki are persimmons that are peeled
and dried whole over several weeks.
They hang as you see below and someone
must gently hand-massage each one until
the sugars in the fruit form a dusting that
looks like frost.
Unlike sliced dried fruit, which tend to be brittle
and leathery, hoshigaki are tender and moist.
The hoshigaki method is traditional to Japan,
and came to America with Japanese American
farmers.
Because they are so labor-intensive, hoshigaki
all but disappeared from commercial
production. http://www.slowfoodusa.org
The persimmon we eat today originally came
from China and made its way to Japan more
than 1000 years ago.
Today, the two major Japanese varieties grown
in California are the Hachiya and the Fuyu.
Which is the Fuyu?
Which is the Hachiya?
How to Enjoy Persimmons
Use Fuyus as a cracker and
pair with other fruits or
lowfat cheese.
Pair Fuyu with a crisp vegetable and a dip.
Try them in a salad.
Hachiyas must be eaten when
jelly soft.
Fuyus can be eaten right from
the tree.
Test Your Knowledge
1. The two varieties of persimmons we eat are called____ + ____.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Fuyu – Hachiya
Antioxidants keep the body safe from_______ ________.
Free radicals
Long ago, persimmons were called______ __ __ ______.
Food for the gods
The persimmon is what country’s national fruit?
Japan
What is hoshigaki?
Hand-massaged, dried persimmons that are very moist
Tasting Trio
Persimmon Cereal
Ingredients:
1. 10 Fuyu persimmons
2. 2-1 quart containers low fat vanilla yogurt
3. 1 bag (16 oz) whole-wheat cereal
Preparation:
1. Wash all the persimmons.
2. Dice the persimmons.
3. Fill your cups with the cereal ¾ of the way.
4. Add 1½ ounces of low fat vanilla yogurt to each cup.
5. Top your cereal with 1 teaspoon of the diced persimmons.
HOW I FELT ABOUT THIS RECIPERECIPE
Loved it
It was okay
Didn’t like it
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•California Department of Public Healthealth