The Fruit of the Gods: Persimmons

October 11, 2:09 PMWinston-Salem Cooking ExaminerKeith Coleman

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North Carolina Persimmons

A ride down most roadways during Fall in North Carolina can be both relaxing and enjoyable. But, with a keen eye, you can often spot one of natures most delectable fruits, "Persimmons". Known to the ancient Greeks as "the fruit of the gods", the word persimmon is derived from Powhatan and Algonquian language which means "a dry fruit" and is related to the Blackfoot, Cree and Mohican Native American tribes from the eastern parts of the United States. Persimmons that are found in North Carolina are generally light-orange to dark-orange in color and vary in size, and may be spherical, acorn or pumpkin shaped.

A fully ripened persimmon can be used to make such things as cookies, cakes and puddings. Persimmon Pudding, is a delicious brownie-like pudding that is made with fresh persimmons. With the consistency of Pumpkin Pie and darker in color than that of a brownie, it is often times served with whipped cream or vanilla ice-cream. A wide variety of Persimmon Pudding recipes can be found on the World Wide Web.

According to local folklore, the Persimmon Seed can aid in predicting the weather. By slicing about ten seeds in half, the shape that shows up most often is a sure sign of the upcoming weather one can expect. The three shapes resemble three eating utensils:

• A Knife shape means there will be a cold, icy winter (meaning the wind will slice through you like a knife)
• A Spoon shape means there will be plenty of Snow to shovel
• A Fork shape means that it will be a mild winter
•  

The 2nd Annual Colfax Persimmon Festival will be held on the Historic Stafford Farm located in Colfax, North Carolina on November 7, 2009. There will be arts, crafts, cider, food, antiques, car & tractor show and of course Persimmon Pudding at the event. Admission to the event is only a $5 parking fee. A Map & Directions to the festival can be found here: Persimmon Festival

So, the next time you are out and about on a leisurely drive around scenic North Carolina, keep a keen eye out for a Persimmon Tree. Because the "fruit of the gods" that the tree bares is just to good to pass by.