What if I told you that you could predict the weather, whenever you make persimmon juice?
Winter weather folklore has it that, you can foretell the weather based on the shape of a split persimmon seed.
There are three possible shapes that people get when splitting open a persimmon seed:
- Knife shape – predicts an extremely cold winter.
- Fork shape – predicts a mild winter.
- Spoon shape – predicts that there’ll be a lot of snow.
Whether or not it’s 100% accurate, is a debate that’s yet to be settled.
As exciting as its ‘weather prediction’ capabilities sound, a persimmon (also known as a kaki fruit) has a lot more to offer. The two popular types of persimmons are the Hachiya and the Fuyu.
The Fuyu fruit benefits you if you’re going for a recipe that doesn’t require a ripe persimmon. Hachiya varieties are bitter and too dry to enjoy unless they are ripe.
Persimmons can be cooked, dehydrated, dried, and even eaten raw depending on the variety you have. People also use their puree when making desserts, puddings, curries, cakes, and cookies to mention a few. However, today, we are focusing on persimmon juice and the persimmon benefits that you’ll get if you include it in your diet.
Persimmon/ Kaki Fruit Health Benefits
Persimmons are credit for being a good source of phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2. They also contain over half of your daily recommended vitamin A intake.
Whenever you drink persimmon juice, you’ll get a decent amount of fiber. That’s part of what makes persimmons weight-loss friendly, including the fact that they’re also low in calories.
A report in the Experimental and Clinical Sciences Journal, also pointed out that persimmons have a substantial amount of organic compounds.
What makes Persimmons stand out?
Persimmons have an active compound known as the Betulinic acid. The acid has antimalarial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anthelmintic properties.
Research has shown that the acid can kill off various human cancer cells. It inhibits the growth and development of tumors and even helps get rid of free radicals. Betulinic acid also inhibits the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Drinking persimmon juice will most certainly offer you protection against diseases and tumors.
Which other ways will you benefit from drinking persimmon juice?
- Persimmons have powerful anti-oxidants which lower the risk of contracting certain chronic diseases.
- The nutrients in the juice will help boost your heart health.
- It will help prevent blood sugar spikes. Persimmons help slow down sugar absorption and carbohydrate digestion.
- The juice is an excellent way to keep your digestive system healthy.
- Your vision will be better than ever.
- Persimmons help lower inflammation in the body.
- The juice has some anti-aging benefits.
- It will protect you from memory impairment as you grow older.
Now that you know the health benefits associated with persimmon juice, you should know how to prepare it as well.
How to juice persimmon
- Wash the persimmon
- Peel it (you can also choose not to peel it)
- Slice it into quarters
- Put it into a blender and blend till smooth.
You can also use a juicer, but both types of equipment will give you a good yield.
Persimmon Juice Recipes
If you want to try out other persimmon juice recipes, we have listed a few interesting recipes for you.
1. Persimmon Spinach And Beet Juice
Looking for the perfect pre-workout juice? We’ve got you covered! The beet in the juice will help improve your circulation and overall running time. The persimmon will help keep you hydrated, and the spinach helps with muscle and joint repair.
You will need:
- A dash of cinnamon
- 2 Fuyu persimmons (ripe)
- 1 to 2 inches of ginger
- A handful of spinach
- 1 beet (medium-sized)
- 1 sliced apple (granny)
- 3 celery sticks
- Ice cubes (optional)
To prepare the juice:
- Juice the fruits and vegetables (use organic produce when possible)
- Pour juice into a glass and add ice cubes
- Sprinkle some cinnamon and enjoy
2. Persimmon Orange Cinnamon Juice
You’ll probably end up ranking this juice as one of your favorite breakfast drinks.
You will need:
- ¼ tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ banana (fresh or frozen)
- 1 persimmon (ripe)
- A pinch of cinnamon
- 1 cup of orange juice
- Ice (optional)
To prepare the juice:
- Peel the persimmon and cut it into pieces.
- Put all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a glass and sprinkle the cinnamon.
- Serve and enjoy.
3. Persimmon Berry Juice
This recipe’s original creator referred to the juice as a ‘sweet tart-tasting smoothie.’ It is more than your average sweet berry smoothie. You’ll get to enjoy a delicious burst of flavor with every sip. Most people find the juice extremely healthy and satisfying.
You will need:
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- 3 Fuyu persimmons (chopped)
- 1 cup of almond milk
- 1 cup of strawberries (frozen)
- 1 serving of a berry smoothie powder (based on your brand preference)
- 2 ice cubes
- A dash of cinnamon
To prepare the juice:
- Put the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
4. Green Persimmon Smoothie
This green smoothie helps curb sugar cravings. It is flavor-packed and contains chia seeds, to keep you feeling fuller. The juice will also soothe your digestion and stabilize your metabolism.
You will need:
- ½ lime juice
- 1 Hachiya persimmon (ripe)
- 2/3 cup of filtered water
- ½ cup of pineapple (sliced)
- 1 tsp. of ginger
- ½ cup of papaya (sliced)
- 2 kale leaves (roughly chopped)
- 2 dates with removed pits (preferably Medjool dates)
To prepare the juice:
- Vertically slice the persimmon.
- Remove firm membranes and scoop the persimmon into a blender.
- Put the remaining ingredients into a blender.
- Blend until smooth and serve.
5. Persimmon Banana Juice
You’ll be using honey to make this smoothie. But, if you feel as if the persimmon and banana are sweet enough, you can opt-out of adding honey to the smoothie. The drink is highly nutritious, sugar-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
You will need:
- 1 banana (ripe)
- 2 persimmons
- 1 tsp. of desiccated coconut (optional)
- 13.5 oz of coconut milk
- 2 tbsp. of chia seeds
- 2 tbsp of honey (optional)
To prepare the smoothie:
- Put the ingredients in a blender (except for the desiccated coconut and the honey).
- Blend until smooth.
- Taste and add honey if you want it sweeter.
- Serve and sprinkle some chia seeds and desiccated coconuts on top.
What Problems Will You Have When Making Persimmon Juice?
Earlier on, we mentioned that there are two popular persimmon varieties in the market. You should be cautious when making your selection because some persimmon juice recipes are precise when it comes to the type of persimmon you should use.
Conclusion
Always use the persimmon that the recipe demands. That way, you’ll get the best results whenever you feel like making a refreshing glass of persimmon juice.
