Popping up everywhere from hillsides and courtyards to markets and snack vendors, beautiful golden-orange persimmons are a sure sign that fall has arrived in Beijing. If you’re not familiar with persimmons (柿子, shìzi), just think of it like a tomato dressed in fall colors, infused with sweet flavors of ripe plum and apricot.
Vitamin-rich persimmons have long been used in Chinese medicine for a variety of ailments from high blood pressure to hiccups. In addition to being good for you, persimmons’ bright color and lantern-like shape make them a fun-to-eat treat.
Kirsten Harrington 