A friend of ours recently invited us to lunch and while I was in the kitchen helping him make a salad, I noticed a piece of fruit sitting in a bowl. I inquired about it and he told me it was called a persimmon and that it tasted wonderful.
Now — I am normally leery of trying new foods. I’m not sure why as over the years I have learned to eat so many different and great-tasting foods. But — I asked him if I could take one home with me to try it and he said yes. (What friend wouldn’t say yes?)
And that is how my love relationship with a persimmon got started. Have you had the opportunity to try one?
What I like about it is that the taste is quite flavorful (when it’s ripe — I hear it’s bitter when it’s not ripe). The texture is not overly juicy like an orange so you don’t have to worry about wearing a bib. Â hahahahaha
And — you can eat the peel!!! But — you must remove the stem at the top — I think your mouth might complain if you happen to chew on the stem. Â Blech!
Here is what the inside looks like (for those of you who still have some naiveness in you, like me):
This one was not totally ripe but was edible. Soft but not quite soft enough. Still — it was good. When it’s not totally ripe, you don’t get as much juiciness.
So — what are the benefits of eating this fruit? Â Well …. since you asked ….
It’s been said that they contain “anti-oxidant compounds like vitamin-A, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zea-xanthin and cryptoxanthin. Together, these compounds function as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease processes.”
They are also a good source of Vitamin C, potassium and also have B-complex vitamins like folic acid, and thiamin.
Here are a couple more links (just in case you need convincing to try one for its health benefits):
Try one — I believe you’ll like it.
Note: There have been people who have had an allergy to persimmons. I’ve read that this is rare but thought you should know — it’s possible.
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