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Sweet, Sweet Persimmons
The persimmon is a favorite fruit of possums. Persimmons are bitter, right? Then why is it that possums don't have mouths shaped like jute tobacco bags? Some interesting facts that may surprise you about persimmons… Captain John Smith's reaction to the persimmon was aptly spoken, "If it be not ripe, it will draw a man's mouth awry with much torment." The persimmon tree: innocent, beautiful and rather bitter. The 'pucker upper' is due to the presence of tannin, the same element that makes acorns bitter. As the persimmon ripens, the tannin slowly dissipates and a mellow, sweet meat is left! Many people mistakenly assume that the persimmon loses the bitterness due to frost. It is merely a coincidence that the fruit ripens up near the first frost. The persimmon is one of the hardest of all woods and classified in the ebony family. It polishes to a high, glossy shine. Golf club heads and parquet flooring are made from this beautiful, durable wood that can be found from Connecticut to Texas. Enough about the wood! Possums are interested in what grows on the tree - that wonderful, sweet meat of the persimmon. As the fruit ripens, it falls to the ground. But trees can reach a maximum height of 130 feet, so an adventurous possum may be inclined to go up to dine. If you have ever taken a nature hike, you may have come across a clump of persimmon seeds mixed with scat. These trail decorations are evidence that some form of wildlife consumed a batch of persimmons. Even though the seeds are very difficult to digest, possums and other wildlife may eat the entire fruit. The smart ones will spit them out.
Where possums have not found use for the seeds, man has. Seeds can be used as a coffee substitute when roasted. The Vitamin C-rich leaves can be used either fresh, or dried and crushed, to make a tasty tea. Persimmons have been used to make beer and syrup for over 100 years! A wonderful reading source for persimmon recipes is Drinks from the Wilds by Steven A. Krause. It is an older book, but packed with all sorts of wonderful teas, syrups, coffees and other foods that you can make from foods found in the wild. Included in his book are recipes for the persimmon beer and syrup. And the word in the woods is that it's also highly recommended by possums….(the book, not the beer). Before eating any wild plant, you should consult a trained botanist or naturalist to be sure of the identification.
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