{{short description|Traditional dried fruit}} {{redirect|Hoshigaki|the ''Naruto'' character Kisame Hoshigaki|List of Naruto characters#Kisame Hoshigaki}} {{Infobox food | name = Dried persimmon | image = Gotgam (dried persimmon).jpg | caption = Dried persimmons | alternate_name = Dried persimmon | country = | region = East Asia | national_cuisine = | creator = | year = | mintime = | maxtime = | type = Dried fruit | course = | served = | main_ingredient = Oriental persimmon | minor_ingredient = | variations = | serving_size = 100 g | calories = | protein = | fat = | carbohydrate = | glycemic_index = | similar_dish = | other = }} '''Dried persimmon''' is a type of traditional dried fruit snack in East Asia with origins in China. They dried them to use them in other seasons.<ref name="Means">{{Cite news|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/dried-persimmon-6425322|title=Dried Persimmon|last=Means|first=Becky|date=2 August 2010|work=Houston Press|access-date=3 June 2017}}</ref> Known as '''''shìbǐng''''' ({{lang|zh|柿餅}}) in Chinese, '''''hoshigaki''''' ({{lang|ja|干し柿}}) in Japanese, '''''gotgam''''' ({{lang|ko|곶감}}) in Korean, and '''''hồng khô''''' in Vietnamese, it is traditionally made in the winter, by air drying Oriental persimmon. It is also used to make wine, put in traditional tea,<ref>{{Cite web|script-title=ko:수정과|url=https://terms.naver.com/entry.naver?cid=40942&docId=1115760&categoryId=32136|access-date=2021-05-09|website=terms.naver.com|language=ko}}</ref> and in creating other desserts.
In the Han dynasty, Yangshao dried persimmon was used as a tribute to the imperial court.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}
== Production == [[File:Persimmon drying in Fujinomiya,Shizuoka,Japan(吊るし柿白糸の滝下流) DSCF0017.jpg|thumb|Persimmon-drying with Mount Fuji in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan]] [[File:Kanzo-yashiki-umaya.JPG|thumb|Persimmons, strung up by their stems, being air dried in Kōshū, Japan.]]
Dried persimmon are made from various varieties of Oriental persimmon. Persimmons, when fully ripe, are thin-skinned, soft and sweet. Persimmons used to create dried persimmons are harvested when they are under-ripe, firm, astringent, and bitter.<ref name="Doo">{{Cite web|url=http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000717209|title=gotgam|website=Doopedia|publisher=Doosan Corporation|language=ko|script-title=ko:곶감|access-date=3 June 2017}}</ref>
=== China === In China, there are many different varieties of dried persimmon. The traditional way of drying persimmon is to choose fruits which are fully mature. After the persimmons are peeled and blemishes have been removed, a drying rack 0.8-1m high and covered with foil is placed in an area with sufficient light, air circulation, and sanitation. The persimmons are then placed stem-side up onto the rack and covered to prevent contact from rain or other environmental debris. The drying process causes the flesh to shrivel and a frosty layer to form on the surface. In addition, there are artificial drying methods, this method producing brighter-coloured persimmons. Each region in China has different production methods and dried fruit characteristics, of which Xi'an dried persimmon is more famous.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022|reason=No sources backing this process}}
=== Japan === In Japan, the fruit are peeled and then suspended by strings from their stems.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Wan Yan Ling|title=Grocery Ninja: Dried Persimmons Are a Taste of Honeyed Sunshine|url=https://www.seriouseats.com/2009/04/hoshigaki-dried-persimmons-fruit-japanese.html|website=www.seriouseats.com|publisher=Serious Eats|access-date=15 May 2018|language=en}}</ref> They are massaged daily after they have started to dry.<ref>{{cite web|title=How To Make Hoshigaki (Dried Persimmons)|url=https://www.rootsimple.com/2012/11/how-to-make-hoshigaki-dried-persimmons/|website=Root Simple|access-date=15 May 2018|date=13 November 2012}}</ref> This gives the dried persimmon from Japan a distinctive shape and texture that is different from those from China and Korea.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mucci|first1=Kristy|title=This is the Kobe Beef of Dried Fruit|url=https://www.saveur.com/hoshigaki-japanese-dried-persimmon|website=SAVEUR|access-date=19 May 2018|language=en|date=November 15, 2016}}</ref> ''Anpo-gaki'' is a variation of Japanese dried persimmon in which the persimmon is dried by fumigating with sulphur, resulting in a soft, juicy texture.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Go Go Tohoku|url=https://www.facebook.com/gogotohoku/posts/329968024077547|access-date=2020-09-01|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}</ref>
=== Korea === In Korea, the persimmons are peeled and dried, tied with ''saekki'' (rice straw ropes) and hung in sunny, well-ventilated place, for example to the eaves of the house.<ref name="KTO">{{Cite news|url=http://korea.stripes.com/news/seasonal-foods-eat-fall|title=Seasonal foods to eat this fall|last=Korea Tourism Organization|date=5 October 2016|work=Stripes|access-date=3 June 2017|author-link=Korea Tourism Organization|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801001620/http://korea.stripes.com/news/seasonal-foods-eat-fall|archive-date=1 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Yonhap">{{cite news|title=First lady to treat Trump couple with personally made refreshments|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2017/11/07/0200000000AEN20171107006200315.html|access-date=20 May 2018|work=Yonhap News Agency|date=7 November 2017|language=en}}</ref> When the color turns brown and the outer part hardens, the seeds are removed and the persimmons are sealed again and flattened.<ref name="Yi">{{Cite web|url=http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Index?contents_id=E0004560|title=gotgam|last=이|first=효지|website=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture|publisher=Academy of Korean Studies|language=ko|script-title=ko:곶감|access-date=3 June 2017}}</ref> After around three weeks, when the fruits reach 75% of their original weight, they are covered in dried rice straw and stored in a box in a cool place until the drying process is completed, and a white powdery crust of persimmon sugar forms on the outside.<ref name="Means" /> Sangju in North Gyeongsang Province is famous for its dried persimmons.<ref name="Yoon">{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ABwBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT8|title=Season of Beauty, Season of Plenty|last=Chung|first=Kyung-a|date=October 2014|work=KOREA|publisher=Korean Culture and Information Service|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813054344/https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=5ABwBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT8|archive-date=13 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Kim">{{Cite news|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3008118|title=Taste of a fruit is the only trace of a happy youth|last1=Kim|first1=Sun-mi|date=20 August 2015|work=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=3 June 2017|last2=Kim|first2=Sarah}}</ref>
== Nutrition == [[File:Gotgam dying in Hahoe Village.jpg|thumb|Modern persimmon-drying rack used instead of traditional straw ropes, in Hahoe Folk Village, Korea]] Korean ''gotgam'' usually consists of 32% moisture, 6.3% protein, 0.44% fat, 44.8% carbohydrate, 15% fiber, and 1.99% ash.<ref name="Yi" /> calories (32g/ea) : 75.8kcal
== Culinary use == In Chinese cuisine, dried persimmons can be consumed themselves, or used as an ingredient in other foods. For example, dried persimmon wrap is made by wrapping a walnut with dried persimmon. Dried persimmon is also served with pine nuts or fresh fruits.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}
In Japan, Hoshigaki are eaten by themselves as a quick snack or eaten with walnuts and/or with Traditional Desserts like Dango, Mochi, or Raindrop Cake.
== In popular culture == According to Chinese legend, Zhu Yuanzhang was forced to live in exile at the foot of Jinweng mountain in the north of Fuping. He was able to live because he ate local dried persimmons.
The Korean folktale "The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon" features a tiger scared of dried persimmon.<ref name="Wi">{{Cite book|title=The Tiger and Dried Persimmon|last=Wi|first=Ki-cheol|publisher=Kookminbooks|year=2004|isbn=8911022241}} *{{cite web |title=The Tiger and Dried Persimmon |url=http://eng.klti.or.kr/ke_04_01_011.do?method=view&bcategory=K86001&bnum=2001540 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813013427/http://eng.klti.or.kr/ke_04_01_011.do?method=view&bcategory=K86001&bnum=2001540 |archive-date=2017-08-13 |website=Korea Literature Translation Institute}}</ref><ref name="JSMA">{{Cite web|url=http://jsma.uoregon.edu/sites/jsma2.uoregon.edu/files/the%20tiger%20and%20the%20persimmon.pdf|title=The Tiger and the Persimmon|website=Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art|publisher=University of Oregon|access-date=3 June 2017}} *{{cite web |title=EI |url=http://jsma.uoregon.edu/ei |website=Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art}}</ref>
== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed"> File:Dried Kaki Fruit.jpg|''Hoshigaki'' served as a snack in Japan File:Gotgam.jpg|Sliced ''gotgam'' served as a snack in Korea File:Gotgam-ssam 2.gif|''Gotgam-ssam'' (dried persimmon rolls) made with walnuts File:鏡餅 (4296045959).jpg|Japanese ''kagami mochi'' served with dried persimmon-skewers File:Dried Persimmons - Wuzhou - 20181102.jpg|Shibing of roadside sales in China. File:Orderly dried fruit.jpg|Different varieties of dried persimmon in China </gallery>
== See also == * Dried apricot * Dried cherry * Dried cranberry * List of dried foods
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
Persimmon Category:Korean snack food Category:Persimmon