around the “T” or to a straight stem—to create
a balanced pair of fruits. The family drapes
the pairs over a homemade PVC rack in the
garage, but you could use ladder rungs or
another setup. Aim a fan, set on low, at fruit
during drying to improve air circulation. Let
dry until persimmons are wrinkled and prune-
like and form a thick outer layer, 1 to 2 weeks.
Don’t worry if they get brown flecks as they
start to oxidize.
- START MASSAGING.
Every few days, then daily as they start to
get drier, very gently massage persimmons
between your palms to break up the outer
layer and inner pulp until you don’t feel any
lumps (though you may feel a few small
seeds). Massaging releases moisture and
DIGITAL BONUS Get our favorite
fresh persimmon recipes for
salads, slab pie, and more at sunset.
com/persimmons.sugar and creates an even inner texture.
If any mold appears, spritz fruit with vodka
(don’t dunk fruit; it will fall off the twine).
Continue until fruit starts to get a sugary
white coating, 4 to 6 weeks total.- CURE AND PACKAGE.
Take persimmons from racks and cut off stems,
string, and round base of calyx. Set fruit flat
or slightly overlapping on baking sheets. Dry
indoors by a sunny window, draping with a
clean kitchen towel at night, until the sugary
coating forms all over the fruit, about a week.
(Fruit should still be moist; don’t let it harden.)
Vacuum-seal the hoshigaki, or wrap in plastic
wrap, then put in resealable plastic bags. Keep
at room temperature for a few months or chill
or freeze up to a year.
“They’re Grandma’s
trees. It would be a
waste not to dry the
persimmons, and
it’s fun.”
—Nicole Yamanaka
Trim firm Hachiya persimmons to remove the
leafy calyx but not the stem. Peel, attach kitch-
en twine to stems, and hang in pairs to dry.
Food & Drink
TOP: ALANNA HALE (2); BOTTOM: ANNABELLE BREAKEY78 OCTOBER 2018 ❖ SUNSET