A Twist on Tradition: Celebrate Thanksgiving with Persimmons! 🍂🥧

Spice up your Thanksgiving with Persimmon Pie!

As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, I am so grateful for family, friends, and the indigenous cultures that have shaped our world. This year, why not add a twist to the traditional turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie and include persimmons? 🍅

Grateful for persimmon pie | © Kacey Carpenter

National Native American Heritage Month

November is National Native American Heritage Month, a time to shift our narrative from “pilgrims and Indians” to a celebration of generosity, community, and gratitude towards indigenous cultures. Use Native Lands to acknowledge the lands of indigenous peoples, delve into the true history of Thanksgiving, and add a twist to your menu by incorporating dishes inspired by Native American culinary traditions.

Please Pass the Persimmons

Persimmons, a staple in the diet of many Native American tribes, were used in everything from soups to loaves of bread, beverages, and medicine. There are two main types of persimmons: Fuyu and Hachiya. Fuyu persimmons are light orange and have a tart or bitter taste that turns honey-like when ripe, making them perfect for salads. Hachiya persimmons, with their bright blood-orange color, become sweet and pudding-like when ripe, ideal for pureeing into a baked persimmon pie.

The genus name Diospyros translates to ‘food of the gods’. Persimmons belong to the same family as the ebony tree, known for its rich, dark wood. Persimmon trees can grow up to 70 feet and typically take seven years to bear fruit.¹

With their peak season in October and November, persimmons are a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving table. Here are some ways to incorporate them into your holiday menu:

• Bake them into a spiced bread 🍞

• Whip up a steamed persimmon pudding 🍮

• Try your hand at persimmon cookies 🍪

• And of course, bake a pie! 🥧

Gleaning persimmons | © Kacey Carpenter

Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor

Before you can enjoy these tasty treats, you need to know how to pick them. Picking persimmons requires care, patience, and respect for the tree and the fruit. Locate a persimmon tree in your neighborhood, public parks, or farms that allow picking. Remember to get permission before you start picking. Pick persimmons when they are fully ripe and soft to the touch. You’ll need a ladder, a basket, scissors or pruners, a knife, and a cloth.

After picking, rinse the persimmons under running water and pat dry. Use a knife to remove the calyx and the stem. You can then enjoy the persimmons immediately or store them for later. They can be refrigerated, frozen, dried, preserved, or baked for your pie.

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

1. https://www.washcoll.edu/learn-by-doing/food/plants/ebenaceae/diospyros-virginiana.php