I am a self-proclaimed wild fruit fanatic.
I’ve been known to hang by my toenails off a cliff reaching for the plumpest blackberry in Alaska and to brave both grizzly bears and huge mosquitoes picking huckleberries in Montana.
So, when I found my neighbor’s wild persimmon tree laden with fruit, I felt as if I’d hit a gold mine. The fruit needed another few weeks to fully ripen so I headed home to do my homework.
First, I called my neighbor to ask permission. He laughed heartily and said, “be my guest, take as many as you want.”
Next I went online to find the best wild persimmon jam recipe. At this point I’m in full – throttle – enthusiastic – project mode. I envisioned a row of small jelly jars, filled with beautiful golden orange jam, each tied with persimmon colored ribbon.
There were several videos about making wild persimmon jam but I chose one posted by an Indiana farm woman who starts off by saying you need at least three pounds of fruit to make 4 small jars of jam. Three pounds!!! Then she casually says “Wash, peel and seed the fruit.”
This might be a good time to say that wild persimmons, which are about the size of a golf ball, are not like the big, fleshy Fuji persimmons you buy in the store. The thought of peeling and seeding three pounds of golf balls was intimidating.
It was with more determination than enthusiasm that I returned to the trees yesterday. About half the fruit was fully ripe and it was so beautiful I regained some of my ardor for the project. I picked a soft, plump persimmon and, since I’d never actually eaten one before, decided to try it.
I peeled back the skin and took a small bite. My first thought was that it wasn’t too tart. My next sensation was of something sucking out every molecule of moisture from my mouth and wrapping my tongue in cotton balls. It was like a sip of the most astringent tea you’ve ever had – times a thousand.
I threw the persimmon down, called to Sadie and started running home, all the time thinking, “juicy fruit gum. juicy fruit gum.” But of course, we haven’t had that in the house for years. I downed 4 or 5 glasses of water and desperately searched the drawers for chewing gum. All I found was an old hard peppermint candy, probably a decade old. I scraped off most of the plastic wrapping and popped it into my mouth. It helped. It only took a couple of hours to regain feeling in my tongue.
Sadly, I put away the jelly jars and the persimmon colored ribbon. Obviously, not all my full – throttle – enthusiasm – projects work out. If it’s true that good thoughts make sweet fruit, It’s time to work on my thinking! Happy Fall to you all.
Laura
Haha – we had a tree in our backyard when I was a little girl. I always had to eat one or two of the ripe ones – couldn’t resist. Dad always made me wait until they were OVERripe though, which must have made a difference. ;0)
Rule of thumb – a wild persimmon is never ripe enough to eat until it has fallen from the tree and splatted on the ground and even then I’d be wary. Critters usually get them before I can.
Laura. I knew what was coming. My father gave me a grin when I was about 8 years old and encouraged me to taste the persimmons from the tree in our yard and same thing happened to me and he laughed til his belly shook. I was told it’s cause they were not ripe yet so perhaps the one you tasted is same and they just need time for the jam project? But I never forgot that and to this day won’t eat persimmons But have watched the squirrels get drunk as skunks and fall out of the trees from… Read more »
Mom, I’m surprised your full-throttle enthusiasm didn’t ripen then caramelize those wild persimmons right on the branch! I think you should go back tomorrow and try again!
You’re right, Dave. I shouldn’t give up so quickly. You’ll get the first jar of jelly! And I’ll throw in some green ones just so you’ll get the full experience.