Kakis are - like lemons, oranges, etc. - berries. Apart from this fact and the similarity in shape and color, the Diospyros kaki and Citrus have little in common.
Both persimmon and citrus trees have their origins in Asia. The fruits are available all year round in our fruit shop. On the supermarket shelf you could confuse the oranges and the persimmons from a distance because of the similar color and size. However, upon closer inspection, there is little in common other than the bright orange colored shell. Citrus fruits include:
- Oranges,
- Mandarins,
- Kumquats,
- Grapefruits,
- Lemons,
- Lime.
Persimmon plants
The persimmon trees belong to the ebony family, while the citrus plants belong to the rue family. The citrus trees are evergreen, the persimmon trees are deciduous trees. Citrus trees are susceptible to many diseases and pests and require intensive care to ensure good yields. The persimmon trees, on the other hand, are extremely easy to care for.
However, both plants are not hardy and require a tropical or subtropical climate for the fruits to ripen. In most regions of Germany they can only be cultivated as pot plants.
Persimmon fruits
All citrus fruits are not climacteric, they cannot ripen after harvest. The immaturely harvested persimmon fruits, on the other hand, only reach full ripeness for consumption after being stored for a long time. In contrast to citrus fruits, a ripe persimmon, Sharon or persimmon taste very sweet. The bitter aftertaste, which leaves a furry coating on the tongue, indicates a lack of maturity.
All persimmon varieties can be eaten whole; they have neither an inedible peel nor seeds or intermediate skins that need to be removed. When cut crosswise, the flesh of the persimmon reveals a star-shaped pattern. Due to their high sugar content, the nutritional value of persimmons is comparable to that of grapes. Citrus fruits, on the other hand, are particularly valued for their high proportion of vitamin C.
Tips & Tricks
The core of the persimmon trees consists of ebony, which is black in color and very hard and heavy. It is one of the most valuable types of wood.
