Japanese tomel (Diospyros kaki)

Other names: hurmi kaki, kaki churma, Japanese persimmon, Sharon fruit, Korean mango, honey apple, Chinese plum, shitse

Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)

The Japanese thistle (Diospyros kaki) is a deciduous tree that reaches a height of up to 15 metres and is native to China. It is known by many names such as hurmi kaki, kaki churma, Japanese persimmon, Sharon fruit, Korean mango, honey apple, Chinese plum and shitse. Its main distinguishing feature is its fruit. The fruit of the Japanese tomel is very popular in many cuisines around the world. Its flesh is sweet, delicately aromatic and sometimes resembles honey in texture, which is slightly runny. This fruit is rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, manganese and fiber, which is nutritionally valuable and contributes to overall health.

Japanese Tomel is used in many products. Its fruit is often eaten fresh, but it is also often dried, jammed, compote, used in baking fillings or made into various beverages, including wine and liqueurs. Fried or grilled pieces of tomel are also popular in many cuisines, where they serve as a sweet accompaniment to main courses. When unripe, the fruit can be a little bitter towards the tomel, but when ripe it becomes sweet, almost like honey. On the other hand, the rind of the Japanese tomelo can also be used. In particular, it is used to make cloth and rope.