American vs. Asian persimmons: know what you found


Japanese and American persimmons

A ripe persimmon can taste like fruity caramel. An unripe astringent persimmon can make your mouth feel as though it has turned inside out.

The difference starts with knowing which persimmon you have and what fully ripe looks like for that tree.

American vs. asian persimmons

Wild American persimmons are native to much of the eastern United States. The fruits are small and reach their best flavor when extremely soft. Timing varies by tree, and some lose their astringency before frost while others do not.

Japanese or Asian persimmons are much larger. Non-astringent types such as Fuyu can be eaten while still firm once fully colored. Astringent types must soften fully before eating.

Compare American and Asian persimmons

Harvest with care

Only gather fruit where you have permission. Learn the trees in your area and return to proven trees when the fruit is ripe. Soft fallen American persimmons are often at peak flavor, but skip fruit that is spoiled or dirty.

Learn persimmon ripeness cues

Persimmon oatmeal breakfast bars

Make persimmon oatmeal bars

This breakfast and trail-snack recipe works with American or Asian persimmons as long as the fruit is fully ripe and non-puckery. The recipe uses 1 egg.

Make persimmon oatmeal bars

Japanese persimmons prepared for storage

Store asian persimmons

If you have a large harvest, our storage & use guide covers room-temperature, refrigerator, and freezer methods, plus recipes suited to each stage.

Store persimmons for later

Happy Halloween and happy foraging, Aaron & Susan

Recommended kitchen tool

Process ripe persimmons smoothly

A chinois strainer removes skins and seeds while producing a smooth persimmon pulp for baking.

See the chinois strainer

Recommended tool

Dry persimmons for longer storage

A dehydrator gives you another way to preserve ripe persimmons when the harvest comes in all at once.

See the Excalibur dehydrator

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