Dried Persimmon

How To Make Dried Persimmons

Dried persimmons are made through a series of careful steps. The process requires patience and attention. Every step matters, and even small mistakes can ruin the flavor and taste. Workers carefully take care of the persimmons throughout the process, and that's how we get our delicious dried persimmons.

First, peeled persimmons are placed on large, round wire mesh trays and then on open-air persimmon drying racks to sun-dry and air-dry. This process takes about a week. After sun-drying, the persimmons are burned with firewood; the high temperature of the firewood penetrates deep into the dried persimmons. At this stage, the persimmons are still semi-dry, with a thick, sticky texture. The process of making dried persimmons involves further refining and fermenting the persimmons, which takes about another week. By this stage, the sucrose in the persimmons has completely broken down into fructose and glucose. The white powdery coating on the surface of dried persimmons, resembling mold, is persimmon frost, a valuable medicinal ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, believed to strengthen the lungs.

1. Harvesting and Cleaning

We carefully harvest the almost ripe persimmons and clean it thoroughly, removing dirt and waste.

2. Removing Calyx

We remove the calyx, the calyx is the top leafy part on a persimmon. We remove the calyx to allow easier access to peel the skin.

3. Peeling the skin

we peel its skin to make it properly dry up and it also allows the sweetness of the dried persimmon to develop.

4. Smoking the Persimmon

We smoke the persimmon to make it insect proof, ensuring its quality and flavor. The process of smoking takes around 16 days.

5. Drying the Persimmon

We lay the persimmons on drying racks and dry them outside, exposing the persimmons to the wind of September in Taiwan. We dry the persimmons for about 7 to 9 days, flipping the persimmons each day to ensure proper drying.

6. Massaging the Persimmon

We massage it to remove all the water inside the persimmon and we need to massage it 5 to 10 times daily.

The forth, fifth, and sixth steps are a cycle and needs to be done 5 to 10 times per day in around 16 days.

WeiWei Jia's dried persimmon

The frost on top the dried persimmons is beneficial to your lungs.

Dried persimmons are half-wet dried fruit.

Dried persimmons can be used to make soup or tea.

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