Source:Shangluo Wal Nut Co., Ltd. Date:2022-10-14 21:19:16
Dried Persimmon Ethnic Cultural Information
Dried Persimmons are produced throughout East Asia, but in Japan, the fruits are dried using a traditional process that has been practiced for hundreds of years. The dried fruits are known as hoshigaki, a combination of "hoshi", meaning "dry" "kaki", meaning "persimmon", and the labor-intensive practice was initially used as a method of food preservation for the winter season, utilizing solely hachiya persimmons. This persimmon variety is known for having astringent, inedible flesh until it completely softens, but the drying process allows growers to use the astringent fruits when young before the fresh fruits ripen. Astringent persimmons contain a high sugar content, and once the tannins are removed through dehydration, the dried persimmons develop a concentrated, sugary taste believed to be approximately 1.5 times sweeter than fresh persimmons. Hachiya persimmons are peeled, hung from a string, and left to dry for 4 to 6 weeks. As the fruits are drying, they must be hand massaged to soften the flesh, and over time, they develop a soft, dense, sticky, and chewy consistency distinct from dried persimmons made in China, Vietnam, or Korea. Hoshigaki also produces a white bloom on the surface, a natural coating of sugar, and this bloom is one of the traits that signals the dried fruits are ready for consumption. Hoshigaki is commonly sliced and consumed as a sweet snack, or they are used to flavor wagashi, Japanese sweets served with green tea. The dried fruits are also used as decorations during New Year celebrations. Hoshigaki can be seen strung in windows, along covered porches, and in well-ventilated rooms, and the fruits are a symbol of longevity and good luck. Some Japanese families also gift hoshigaki to friends and family as a gesture of goodwill. Despite the dried fruit's popularity, only a small amount of hoshigaki is produced each year, increasing the demand for the luxury dried fruit.
Shangluo Wal Nut Company is processors, packagers and distributors of dried persimmon, we have established long business cooperation with 57 persimmon planters, covering 866 ha of persimmon orchards in Fuping, Shaanxi province, China. If you are interested in dried persimmons and would like to lean more, welcome to contact us @ email: sales@xinwalnut.com and WhatsApp: +8618616568786
