Fruit

Diospyros kaki

S tier

Diospyros kaki is the East Asian persimmon that dominates world commerce—orange fruit ranging from non-astringent crisp types (Fuyu-class) to astringent types that must soften to jelly (Hachiya-class). Flesh turns honey-sweet with apricot and brown-sugar notes when ready; underripe astringent fruit is harshly puckering. Trees are ornamental as well as productive. Slice crisp non-astringent types into salads; scoop soft astringent types into puddings and breads; dry as hoshigaki-style fruit. When recipes say persimmon without American native context, D. kaki is meant. China, Korea, Japan, Spain, and others lead production.