American Persimmons in Kentucky

Starting in late October, the American persimmons begin to bear fruit. They are deciduous trees to Kentucky that grow wild in all types of soil. Folklore states that a hard frost is required to sweeten the fruit; however, this is false. Actually, the persimmon just takes a long time to ripen. For cooking, one of the most common uses is a persimmon pudding but they may also be used to bake cookies and cakes or to make ice creams and preserves. One caution: the puckering astringent taste of the unripe fruit is an experience not soon forgotten.