How to Find and Eat Wild Persimmons

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By momose
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Wild Persimmons Ripening

Persimmon trees grow wild in wooded areas of the southeastern United States, particularly near fence rows and along the edges of fields.

Unlike the fruit of more widely known and cultivated varieties, like much larger Japanese persimmons, wild persimmons are relatively small, usually less than one and one half inches in diameter. But, the fruit of a wild persimmon, sufficiently ripened, is much sweeter, and even more so for its hard won harvest.

While sometimes difficult to find and collect, wild persimmons are a uniquely delicious and nutritious fruit.

*I think everyone should experience biting into an unripe persimmon just once in life. But, to avoid that distinctly distasteful experience, here are a few tips on how to find and eat a wild persimmon.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

A Persimmon Tree Bearing Orange Fruit Almost HIdden among Other Trees

Locate a likely area for the presence of a wild persimmon tree.

This might be easier said than done, as you must sometimes search out fields, fences and woodland boundaries to find a tree.

Farmers, hunters and foresters can sometimes offer suggestions for good locations.
Step 2

Mottled Gray-Brown Bark of a Persimmon Tree

Correctly identify a wild persimmon tree.

Persimmon trees often stay barren of leaves well into spring, while other trees around them are burgeoning with bright green foliage. Persimmon trees bear fruit in late summer and early fall, with dark orange fruit visible usually in early October, and with the leaves beginning to turn brown and drop off.

Look for a tree displaying bark that is a mottled, grayish-brown color, and limbs that often appear tortured and gnarled in their shape and growth.
Step 3

Darker Orange Single Persimmon on the Right is Almost Ripe

Once you have located a persimmon tree bearing fruit in the fall, look at the fruit for signs of ripeness.

Ripe persimmons are very dark orange, with the ripest fruit leaning toward red. Unless you want the aforementioned experience of biting into an unripe persimmon, make sure the fruit is this deep orange color. The persimmon will also be somewhat soft and can be easily broken apart.

Ripened persimmons will fall to the ground, sometimes bursting open at impact. If not dirty or ant infested, these are still good to eat.
Step 4

You may want to peel a persimmon before eating.

While not necessary with the peeling edible and sometimes sweet, it often is mottled with a dark blight that is unappealing. The peel can also retain a cotton-like residue present in the pulp of unripe persimmons. However, if the peeling is unblemished and deep orange, try it.
Step 5

Ripe Deep Orange Pulp with Visible Seeds

When peeling or eating a persimmon, the pulpy inside will often squish out, exposing the seeds. Discard the seeds, eating all the pulp.

If the persimmon is fully ripened, this pulp will be quite sweet and succulent.

Comments

momose said

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on 11/27/2009 Great additional tip from forepoints - Thanks!

forepoints said

on 11/24/2009 If you do bite into an unripe persimmon, the best way to get rid of the cotton-like experience is to put a 1/2 teaspoon of sugar on your tongue and rinse with your own saliva.

cookiesmagic said

on 11/11/2009 I have not had a persimmon in a long time. Very good tips.

alltrails said

on 10/28/2009 Excellent article on how to find and eat wild persimmons. I ate them a lot as a kid. Old timers would say you could tell whether we were going to have a bad winter by cutting open the seeds. Something about seeing a knife or fork in there. 5 stars - thanks!