干し柿（ほしがき）- Dried Persimmon

Have you eaten かき（柿, kaki, persimmon）?

It is not a common fruit in Newfoundland. Persimmon is an orange coloured fruit and harvested in the autumn. There are varieties that come in two distinct categories; either astringent (渋柿、しぶがき shibugaki) or regular (甘柿、あまがき amagaki). 　

                                  あまがき (amagaki)　　　　　　　しぶがき (shibugaki)

Shibui (astringent) +Kaki (persimmon) = Shibugaki 

Amai (sweet) + Kaki (persimmon) = Amagaki

しぶがき that is not over-ripe cannot be eaten. 　

How do Japanese people eat しぶがき?

ほしがき (干し柿, hoshigaki, dried persimmons) is the most common way it is eaten in Japan. We remove the skin and hang them on a string outside.

My students enjoyed ほしがき from Japan. This ほしがき was grown at one of my Japanese friend’s field and she dried them.

Most of the students enjoyed eating ほしがき very much.

ほしがき (hoshigaki)

One of my students said it is not a favourite taste for him, but he could eat it all.