Persimmons – shi zi
What are they? Although there are a few varieties, you will find the native chinese permisson during November and December, lurking abundantly in your local market and hutong stalls – look in the fruit section for something that resembles a large flattened tomato. These slightly odd looking fruits were known to the ancient Greeks as “fruit of the Gods”. And rightly so. Did you know persimmons can…
– assist high blood pressure
– help coughs
– relieve mouth sores
– ease asthma
Our resident TCM teacher Alex advises; This fruit is know to moisten the lungs and can assist with high blood pressures, coughs, sores in the mouth and hiccups. The coughing and wheezing and of asthma can often be eased by introducing persimmons to the diet. But eating persimmons is not a good idea if you have diarrhea – unless the persimmon is not ripe, in which case it can help diarrhea. Perfect for Autumn in Bejing when the weather gets cold and dry and sore throats and dry cough are prevalent.
Our suggestions;
Look for persimmons that are round, plump, and have glossy and smooth skin. Avoid fruits with blemishes, bruises or cracked skin and missing the green leaves at the top. Select ripe persimmons only if you plan to eat them immediately. Otherwise, buy firmer fruits and allow them to ripen.
