[Seasonal Tour] Persimmons (1): Finding the Bright Orange Autumn Treat

As the cool autumn breeze sweeps away sweltering summer and green leaves gradually disappear to prepare for their rebirth, it is time to visit Xinpu Township in Hsinchu to look for seasonal produce of the wind city and enjoy a leisure pace of life.

Rich in Hakka culture, Xinpu Township has nine ancestral temples in the space of three streets and six lanes, spanning Zhongzheng Road, Heping Street and Chenggong Street. Besides the large cluster of ancestral temples, ancestral halls and historical residences, the town is rich with cultural stories and unique industries. Attracting throngs of tourists, the town is the heart of the persimmon industry, and is packed full of vibrant culture and history.

Persimmon season is happening in Xinpu now! Seize the season and embark on a fascinating farm tour!

Every autumn/winter, strong wind will blow through Hsinchu. It is known as the “winds of September”, also known as “Hsinchu wind”, as it begins right after “frost descends” (part of the 24 solar terms in Chinese calendar) in September.

With the wind rising now, it is a good time to visit Wei Wei Jia Dried Persimmon Educational Farm located within Dadunshan Agri-tourism Area. Not only can you savor the delicious dried persimmon but also enjoy the spectacular display of persimmons being laid out to dry. Even the shy smiles of the persimmon aunties make a picturesque photo.

On entering the grounds, you will see an amazing sea of golden yellow persimmons laid out under the sun, interspersed with waves of curious tourists. With their skin peeled off, these persimmons are laid out on flat bamboo woven baskets and placed on drying racks constructed from bamboo poles, basking in sunlight and the September wind. Hsinchu’s September wind helps dry the persimmons naturally and is the secret to their unique tastiness.

After fresh persimmons are harvested, their skin and calyx are removed before they are dried for days in the sun and wind. The common round-shape persimmons (stone persimmon and bull-heart persimmon) need to be dried for approximately seven days while the long flat-shaped persimmons (pen persimmon) need around 12 to 14 days. Sun-dried persimmons have to be dehydrated at low temperature for a month. Eventually, white crystalline powder will form on the surface as moisture in the persimmons evaporate and sugar emerges.

While persimmon is a popular fruit, attention will always be on the white powdery coating when it comes to selecting dried persimmons. Many people often mistake the white powder for mold but it is in fact precious “persimmon icing”, which is the crystallization of sugar that seeps out from the fruit during the drying process.

Operated by its third-generation owner, Jin Han Dried Persimmon Educational Farm resides in a traditional three-sided courtyard house (sanheyuan). On its bricked ground are persimmon-drying racks constructed with bamboo poles. Baskets after baskets of round persimmons are carefully assembled on the racks, creating a picturesque scene when sunlight filters through the bamboo woven baskets and reflects off the bamboo poles.

DIY dyeing using persimmon juice is an experience not to be missed when savoring seasonal dried persimmons. You can create one-of-a-kind canvas bag by placing pattern cut-outs on white canvas bag and painting layers of persimmon dye on it.

Also located in Xinpu Township is Xinpu Persimmon Dye House. As its name suggests, it uses persimmon as a dyeing agent to create unique fabrics and other creative products, e.g. apparel, bags and culture-inspired creative bric-a-brac. Tourists can even try their hands at persimmon dyeing, making this a place that combines special characteristics of the local industry with education and recreation. What’s intriguing about persimmon dye is the distinctive hues that developed when the dyed fabric is exposed to sun, which also makes the patterns more pronounced. This is why persimmon dye is also called “sun dye”. Persimmons that are 60%-70% ripe are most suitable for making fabric dye. If green unripe persimmons are used, the juice will be green.

Many culture-inspired creative bric-a-brac at the dye house are made with fabric. White fabric dyed with persimmons requires approximately seven days of sun exposure, and colors will become clearer the longer they are exposed to sun, which is why it is known as “sun dyeing”.

A diverse range of culture-inspired creative products are available for purchase at the dye house. In addition to the usual everyday items, such as canvas bags, bolsters and coin purses, there is also a display of many childhood snacks and nostalgic items, e.g. plum cookies and pineapple slices. The fascinating thing about these snacks is that they are sewed using persimmon-dyed fabric and other textiles, and are incredibly exquisite and realistic!

Head off to Xinpu in Hsinchu now! Get a taste of sweet persimmons and try out the DIY experience, and be enchanted by the sea of golden yellow persimmons.