Out-of-the-ordinary produce: Persimmon

This originally Asian berry looks like a dwarf tomato with a four-leaf stem. It’s sweet with hints of honey and pumpkin. The Fuju variety is particularly popular because it’s tannin-free, which means it has no bitterness even when it’s not fully ripe.

Available from October through winter. Buy soft, almost mushy berries except for the Fuju variety, which can be bought hard.

Eat immediately if it’s really soft–that means it’s ripe. To ripen, put in a paper bag with an apple.

To peel, cut out the leaf stem and pull back the outer layer. Eat as is or add to a fruit salad. To keep the rich flavour, avoid cooking.