Surprising, right? I mean, after all, most fruits pretty much hold the same shape they’re known for. Apples look like hearts. Pears look like, well…pears. But a persimmon? That’s an entirely different ballgame given that while it does resemble a tomato, not every persimmon is created equal. And it’s important to realize this:

The Shape of the Persimmon Directly Determines Its Sweetness

We want to eat fruit that’s sweet, obviously. And it just so happens that if you’re wondering about persimmons, you’re going to want to know that not every variation will be that tasty. Western countries, though, have it a bit easier, but if you just happen to be over in East Asia, know that there are a huge variety of shapes, and it’ll help to have a bit of a guideline about which shapes are ‘good’ (and which shapes are, well, ‘bitter’).

For starters, many sweet persimmons tend to have a flat base, very much like a tomato. Typically, indented lines will run from the stem to the base, but not always; some are smooth. What you have to keep in eye on is whether or not your persimmon has a longer, tapering to a blunt point, sort of like a mutant acorn. If that’s how your persimmon looks like, don’t bite into it. They’re even nastier than lemons, which thankfully makes those varieties of persimmon fantastic for all sorts of cooking.

Hence Why the Shape Matters, But Doesn’t Make the Persimmon Any Less Desirable!

When have you ever come across a fruit capable of so many different possibilities? It’s remarkable. For the more astringment persimmons, you can utilize in salads and dash with other savory items to go along with it. The sweeter kinds can be eaten raw right away. Of course, you won’t know that unless you’ve read this article straight through. So don’t make the mistake of following the guidelines — or else you just might be puckered for a while there.