Dalat dried persimmons are one of the most famous specialties of Da Lat city. Fresh persimmons undergo a hot drying process to produce delicious, naturally sweet, chewy persimmons without the initial astringency.
In today's article, HDV Local will introduce you to some information about Da Lat's chewy persimmon specialty, along with storage instructions and tips for recognizing and preserving chewy persimmons to maintain their quality. Let's explore some information with HDV Local now!
Chewy Dried Persimmons - A Da Lat Specialty Gift
The persimmon season in Da Lat typically starts around August - December each year. The peak season for ripe persimmons in Da Lat lasts about 3-4 months, so not everyone gets to travel and enjoy fresh, crispy, sweet persimmons. If you're captivated by the taste of Da Lat persimmons, you can choose to buy chewy dried persimmons as a gift.
From fresh persimmons, skilled artisans have created a unique gift that attracts countless tourists. The initial astringent and bitter taste of the persimmon transforms into soft, delicately sweet slices.
Dalat chewy persimmons are often affectionately called Da Lat chewy dried persimmons or Da Lat dried persimmons. Currently, there are two types of chewy dried persimmon products: whole dried persimmons and half-dried persimmons (often called sliced chewy persimmons).
Comparing the taste of these two types of chewy persimmons, both have a distinctive persimmon aroma and a naturally delicate sweetness. However, if you prefer a softer and chewier texture, you should choose whole persimmons, and if you prefer a drier texture, you can choose the sliced dried persimmon type.
Price of Dalat chewy dried persimmons
The price of Dalat chewy dried persimmons varies depending on the time of year. If you buy them during the off-season (from August to December), the price of dried persimmons will be about 20-30% higher than during the main season.
The selling price of chewy dried persimmons in Da Lat is as follows:
- Whole chewy dried persimmons: 150,000 – 170,000 VND/500gr bag
- Half chewy dried persimmons (dried persimmon slices): 130,000 – 150,000 VND/500gr bag
How to make Dalat chewy dried persimmons at home
Chewy dried persimmon is a delicious and highly nutritious snack for your health when you visit Dalat. You should try it. Let's join HDV Local in the kitchen to try making chewy dried persimmons at home. With just a little skill, you'll have an absolutely delicious dish.
Prepare ingredients for chewy dried persimmons
To make a batch of chewy dried persimmons that are just right, you need to choose delicious fresh persimmons:
- Choose persimmons that are just ripe; this way, they won't be bitter when eaten, but because they are too ripe, they will be difficult to peel.
- Choose fruits with smooth, plump skin, no bruises, dark spots, wrinkles, and no insect bites.
- For dried persimmons, it doesn't matter if they have stems or not, the fruit will still be delicious.
Steps to make Dalat chewy dried persimmons at home
Step 1: Clean the persimmon skin
After selecting fresh persimmons, proceed to peel them completely.
This step needs to be done carefully, making sure no skin remains. If any skin is left, it will taste bitter when eaten.
The trick is to peel the fruit vertically from top to bottom; this way, the finished product will have extremely beautiful patterns on the persimmon.
Step 2: Soak persimmons in salt water
After peeling the persimmons, soak them in diluted salt water with lemon juice. This prevents the persimmons from turning dark after peeling.
This step should be done simultaneously with the peeling step. As each fruit is peeled, put it into the diluted saltwater, soak for 2 minutes, then remove and drain.
Step 3: Shape the dried persimmon product
After soaking in warm water and drying, the persimmons are shaped into products. Depending on your preference, whether you want soft and chewy or crispy persimmons, the shaping will be different.
You can bake the whole fruit or split it in half or in thirds. The smaller it's split, the harder it will be for the dried persimmon product to dry, reducing its chewiness.
Step 4: Dry the persimmons in the microwave
Once everything is complete, proceed to dry the persimmons using a microwave oven.
Place the persimmons on a baking tray, being careful not to overlap them.
Adjust the drying temperature to approximately 60 – 70 * C. At this temperature, the persimmons will be naturally dried, helping to preserve their nutritional value and preventing them from cracking or burning.
The drying time will be around 10 hours. During drying, frequently observe the product. After 2-3 hours of drying, take the persimmons out and massage them (gently pat around the persimmon flesh), then flip them over and continue drying.
If you don't flip and massage the persimmons often, the persimmon slices may not be as soft and evenly dried.
Step 5: Harvest the finished product
After about 10 hours of drying, it's time to enjoy your finished product.
A properly chewy dried persimmon will be soft and chewy inside, not tough on the outside. Biting into it, it will melt softly in your mouth with a delicate aroma.
If the persimmon is not dry enough, continue drying it for another 1-2 hours until you are completely satisfied with its taste.
After removing the chewy dried persimmons from the oven, you should wait for them to cool completely before eating or storing them in the refrigerator.
How to preserve the product after drying
To keep the chewy dried persimmon product's original flavor intact, put them in a resealable bag or an airtight container for storage.
It is recommended to store chewy dried persimmons in the refrigerator's crisper drawer or freezer to preserve their flavor longer. In the refrigerator, they can be stored for 2-3 months; in the freezer, they can last about 6-8 months.
Dalat chewy dried persimmons with white powder
Many customers who buy chewy dried persimmons notice a layer of "white powder" on the surface of the persimmons. Many mistakenly believe that the persimmons are moldy and often discard them without consuming them.
However, you are mistaken, because the "white powder" on the surface of chewy dried persimmons is a type of probiotic. This type of probiotic automatically reproduces on the surface of chewy persimmons after a period of storage.
The outer surface of the chewy dried persimmon will have glucose and fructose sugars covering it after drying. This creates the conditions for a type of probiotic to develop, which not only helps prevent the persimmon from molding but also enhances the flavor of the dried persimmon.
This probiotic is extremely safe for the body, so you can use it with confidence. In countries like Korea and Japan, people often ferment dried persimmon leaves into "white powder" before consuming them.
How to distinguish Dalat chewy dried persimmons
Currently, in the Dalat market, there are many chewy dried persimmon products of unknown origin from China that have been smuggled into Dalat and sold to tourists. To protect the reputation of Dalat chewy dried persimmons and bring the highest benefits to consumers, HDV Local will show you how to distinguish between the two products!
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Characteristics of Dalat chewy dried persimmons |
Characteristics of Chinese chewy dried persimmons |
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Health benefits of Dalat chewy dried persimmons
According to experts, 100g of chewy dried persimmons contain about 130 calories. Seasoned chewy dried persimmon products can contain 260-300 calories. Eating chewy dried persimmons will not cause weight gain if consumed in reasonable amounts, only 1-2 fruits per day and no more than 3 times a week.
The health benefits of Dalat chewy dried persimmons include:
- Good for vision (eyes): Chewy dried persimmons have a relatively high vitamin A content. Vitamin A brightens eyes, prevents macular degeneration, cataracts, or night blindness, etc.
- Boosts the immune system: Chewy dried persimmons contain several vitamins C, sodium, calcium, potassium, carbohydrates, etc., which help boost immunity.
- Prevents aging: Thanks to the presence of vitamin C, B6, Riboflavin, etc., they can slow down the aging process and make you feel healthier when consuming chewy persimmons.
- Benefits for the digestive system: Chewy dried persimmons are rich in mucilage, which helps cleanse the digestive system. It helps treat constipation, diarrhea, and other digestive disorders.
- Improves anemia: Chewy persimmons contain a lot of iron, which helps promote red blood cell production. Therefore, eating chewy dried persimmons is suitable for people with anemia.
So, you've learned a lot about Dalat chewy dried persimmon products. You've also learned about how to prepare them at home, how to distinguish them when buying, and the benefits of chewy dried persimmons. HDV Local hopes that this information will be useful to you.