Persimmons in Korea: Bare Branches, a Frightened Tiger, and Fruit Left for the Magpies
If you have bought a squat, tomato-shaped Fuyu persimmon this fall, you have tasted one of Korea's favorite autumn fruits. In Korean it is simply gam (감). And in late autumn, a Korean persimmon tree is one of the most striking sights in the countryside: bare branches, almost no leaves, and bright orange fruit hanging in the cold air. A fruit that ripens after the leaves fall That picture is not just poetic license. The Asian persimmon tree ripens its fruit when the leaves have mostly fallen, usually in October and November, which is also the main harvest season across East Asia. So the classic image of late autumn in Korea is a tree that looks almost winter-bare, still lit up with fruit. There are two broad kinds. Astringent persimmons, such as Hachiya, are only pleasant once they turn soft and jelly-like. Non-astringent ones, such as Fuyu, can be eaten while still firm, like an apple. In Korea persimmons are served as a dessert or set out when guests come over, cut into s...