I haven’t been sampling too many new fruits lately. Mainly for the reason that I haven’t found much of a variety at the store. A few days ago I stumbled upon this fruit, which I had never seen before. How many of you know what it is? One clue, it isn’t a tomato. And for those who do know, when should I eat it? Right now it is hard like an apple. Should it be firm or soft? 
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About TBM
TB Markinson is an American who's recently returned to the US after a seven-year stint in the UK and Ireland. When she isn't writing, she's traveling the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in New England, or reading. Not necessarily in that order.
Her novels have hit Amazon bestseller lists for lesbian fiction and lesbian romance.
She cohosts the Lesbians Who Write Podcast (lesbianswhowrite.com) with Clare Lydon. TB also runs I Heart Lesfic (iheartlesfic.com), a place for authors and fans of lesfic to come together to celebrate lesbian fiction.
50 Year Project 
You have to eat it very soft. Right now it won’t be good 🙂
It’s my favorite fruit called “kaki” persimmons.
“persimmons should be ripened till they are fully soft, except that the carpels still might be softly chewy. At that stage the skin might be splitting and the calyx can easily be plucked out of the fruit before serving, which often is a good sign that the soft fruit is ready to eat”
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persimmon#section_3
I’ll do my best to be patient. thanks for all the info!
At first, I thought perhaps it was an orange tomatillo….but I have never seen an orange one. So, I also have to go with persimmon.
And you are right!
http://mediterraneanturkishfoodpassion.blogspot.com/2009/11/persimmons-hurma.html
We call it “hurma”… actually it is so good to eat but I don’t like… Thanks and Love, nia
Thanks Nia. I love learning the different names from all over the world. Have a wonderful day!
I’m with euroar, but there also varieties of persimmon which can be eaten when they’re firm..you’d have to ask the shop that sold them to you!
I’m pretty sure my shop doesn’t know much–got them from the big Tesco near me and every time I’ve asked a question I get a blank stare. I get it, they just want to put in their hours and go home. I’ve had jobs like that.
Persimon!! They are deliciooous.. I like having them cut up, or just eating them like an apple, or cutting htem and having them with nuts and berires in yoghurt. Yummy
I do have some yogurt–thanks for the idea!
no worries. Have a lovely day.
Oh, I love this fruit! It’s one of my favorites and I’ve been eating them since I can remember. It’s a persimmon (“kaki” in Japanese) and they are available in the Fall here. I look forward to them every year. They taste the best and sweetest when they are ripe, meaning they are soft. In your top photo, I prefer the one on the right which is flatter. Those taste better to me. The one on the left which is taller and more pointed on the bottom is not as good to me in my opinion. It has a little different texture which I can’t get used to (furry in the mouth).
I prefer the flatter ones just as they are getting soft, but still slightly firm. They are also really good when softer, but can get a little mushy to handle.
Thanks now I know what to look for when I’m shopping for them. I think you mentioned these fruits before but I never saw one. Now I know–just need them to ripen.
They are delicious. Enjoy!
Thanks!
They have been on special offer in the supermarkets lately but I haven’t bought them because I know they won’t have kept them well enough for them to be their best!
I’m starting to wonder about these, but I’ll give it a go.
My grandmother had a tree of these in her yard, but I don’t remember anything about them.
My grandmother had apricots in her yard. Spent many days cleaning up after them and it took years before I could enjoy an apricot again.
Funny how that works, isn’t it?
Now when I smell apricots, I think of her. Always makes me smile. She was one special lady.
You’re brave. I had a cousin who made a jelly or jam using persimmon, but I didn’t care much for it. Let us know what you end up doing with it, and how it turns out.
Will do. I love trying new things. It doesn’t always work out, but at least I tried.
A lovely fruit indeed. Though I still have a hard time not expecting to be a tomato.
When I saw it in the store I thought they put it in the wrong place then I read the label and saw that it wasn’t a tomato.
I love persimmon
I’m hoping I do.
I think I saw these for sale in China. Or at least it looks like it. But I don’t know the name of it.
Were you in China recently? I don’t remember that trip.
Last November so a little over a year ago. I know now that those are persimmons, right?!
How in the world did I miss you trip to China–or did I just forget you went. yes, persimmons.
I think maybe because I blog too much! 🙂 Anyway, it is all there if you are interested. 🙂
I’ll pop over and explore and no you don’t blog too much!
I have over 730 posts now! Even I’m getting lost!!!!
I know what you mean, but it’s fun!
lovely fruit and I believe quite healthy but I do not like the taste of it
I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m hoping I like it. Time will tell.
I’m sure the answer has been found – which is just as well because I have no idea!!! Hope you enjoy it.
Lynn 😀
You aren’t alone–I didn’t have a clue either.
Ah yes persimmon. I think I’ve only tried it once and it didn’t really do it for me. The shape and the calyx on top reminds me of mangosteen – have you tried this tropical fruit yet? Just delightful
Haven’t heard of mangosteen–I’ll keep an eye out for it. Thanks!
I saw some today at Borough Market, so it isn’t impossible to get them here. Enjoy!
Good to know. I love Borough Market! All the cheese–I’m drooling.
Kaki !!! . Very abundant here in Japan especially during autumn. Not a fan though 🙂
I’ll have to keep that in mind if I visit Japan during autumn. Thanks for the tip!
Yes it was, 🙂
Well, I am obviously too late for this guessing game, but they sure do look yummy :).
Not sure how they taste yet–still hard as a rock.
I can never beat the deer and possums to them. 😦
They are sneaky
I actually have a persimmon tree in my backyard:)
Cool! I wish I had a backyard–maybe some day.
I like it but those you can buy here need to be soft or they make your teeth go funny. Hard to describe what I mean but when you taste it you know and will NOT enjoy it. We call them Khaki – in German that is.
I’m surprsied, this isn’t the first fruit you showed, they all seem very common to me, is this type of exotic fruit hard to find in the US? In Switzerland you will find them in winter next to the apples, just like that other one you showed. The Khakis are not even expenisve, just like Kiwis. Mangoes are expensive here.
I’m not sure if they have them in the US. I’m assuming yes. For some reason, I notice more things in London than I ever did at home. Not sure why. Yes this is a foreign place to me, but it’s a lot like home–city and such. But I notice more signs, different foods, different cars–I’m more observant and want to take it all in. Thanks for the German word! And I used to be a super picky eater and stuck to the same stuff. I’m doing my best to change that as well.
It’s really different from country to country, that’s why I was interested. In Paris I would find fruit I don’t find her because they import it from Northern Africa.
it is definitely a persimmon; there are two kinds, the one that must be left until it is very oozy ripe, and the other, able to be eaten when just soft but not bursting … you will know when you taste it!
I do have three so I can try one when it starts to get soft and go from there. Thanks!
An excellent fruit that looks like a tomato! Reminds me that I haven’t had the chance to have one of these in a long time. Yum!! As always I am late to the fun game 🙂
I hope to sample many more fruits so hopefully you’ll be the first next time 🙂
Did you figure out what this fruit is?
It is a persimmon, but it’s not ripe yet so waiting to taste it.
Fascinating. I’m curious to know what it tastes like. So exciting!
Me too 🙂
I had to read the comments to see what it was. We don’t get much variety in our produce around here.
I felt that way when I lived in Colorado after moving there from California. As a kid, on my way to school we could pick oranges or pomegranates. I was spoiled.
I love them – sooo yummy 😀
🙂 I can’t wait for them to ripen.
In Germany this is named “Kaki”. My husband loves them. I don’t like them because although their are sweet and juicy they make a kind of dry mouth – that’s odd.
There is a persimmon tree in my parent’s back garden, near the kitchen door but I am never there in Oct/Nov. when the fruit is ripe! In Portugal we call this fruit “diospiro” and it must be eaten when red and soft. Eat it when orange and hard and you’ll wish you hadn’t!
Good to know, not when orange. Thanks for the warning.
One of my favorite fruits ever. I like it a little crunchy, but you have to let it ripe enough so that it’s sweet.
will do. thanks!
Sharon fruit! I love these 🙂 So sweet and juicy.
I had one today and loved it!
I don’t think I have tried a persimmon before. Nice, new discovery for me! Enjoy your persimmon 🙂
It’s really sweet and tasty. I’m glad I found it. I love discovering new experiences.