Fruits|Folklore|Love|Family|

Fuyu

“You can’t choose your family; they are the universe’s gift to you, as you are to them.” by Love

COVID took my husband, our family gatherings, and the bond we had as a family.

So this year, we all decided as a family to bring all our annual gatherings, birthday celebrations, and crazy road trips back!

There’s something truly enjoyable about spending quality time with loved ones while taking advantage of autumn’s golden hues to enjoy nature and celebrate a joyous birthday amidst nature’s beauty and one another. In this article, join me and my family on our first get-together after COVID on a Fuyu persimmon picking adventure! Let’s all celebrate nature’s glory with my loved ones.

What is a Fuyu?

It sounds like a four-letter bad word, doesn’t it? “You’re such a Fuyu!”

I’d like to introduce a Fuyu with an entertaining and captivating Japanese folklore love story to explain the origin of Fuyu Persimmons, as it is known as “The Tale of the Weaving Princess and Cowherd.”

Long ago, there lived in heaven a weaving princess named Tanabata, who was famous for her amazing weaving abilities and gorgeous garments that graced the skies like stars. One day, while gazing down upon Earth, Tanabata caught sight of Hikoboshi, an upstanding cowherd. Instantaneously falling in love, both soon desired being together in life forevermore.

However, their love was forbidden by the gods and separated by an endless expanse of the Milky Way. Tanabata was exiled to star Vega while Hikoboshi was sent to star Altair; meeting each year on July 7th of that lunar month on a particular date.

After sensing their deep love and longing, magpies, known as celestial messengers, took pity on Tanabata and Hikoboshi’s love story and set about building a bridge across the Milky Way on every seventh day of seventh month, so that Tanabata and Hikoboshi could meet up once every year for just one day.

Tanabata and Hikoboshi encountered an evil fairy who was jealous of their love affair, casting a spell to transform Tanabata into a fruit-bearing tree to punish her for defying the gods—the Fuyu persimmon tree, symbolizing Tanabata’s feelings towards Hikoboshi as its fruits symbolized their affection for each other.

Fuyu persimmons have long been held as symbols of Tanabata and Hikoboshi’s lasting love, representing her beautiful garments with their vibrant orange color and sweet taste. At Japan’s Tanabata festival, people write their wishes on strips of paper tied with string tied around bamboo branches with Fuyu persimmons as a tribute to this celestial couple’s eternal devotion.

Fuyu persimmon is an iconic symbol in Japanese folklore, serving as a reminder of love, devotion, and the unbreakable bond that unites two souls across vast distances.

As soon as the crisp autumn air hits, our family head’s out to San Diego’s Persimmon Hill Farm. Usually, the best time is the last week of October or the first week of November.

What do you need with you when taking a trip to the Fuyu Persimmons farm?

• A good pair of garden shears
• Comfortable walking shoes

We were welcomed by rows of Fuyu persimmon trees sporting vibrant orange fruit that create an impressive sight—I love the vibrant orange color, so I am sharing plenty of photos to remember this amazing place by! (Let me know if you need the owner’s contact information for Persimmon Hill Farm; comment and I will send the contact information and address to you.)

We first took five-gallon buckets, then we started heading through the orchard, feeling the crunch of leaves beneath our feet. We started to tell jokes; everything was funny at this point. I'm not sure if you’ve been around Asian families on vacation; we are a loud group of people.

Let me introduce my family.

Meet birthday boy, my son.

As we started to fill our buckets, an overwhelming sense of achievement and unity started to emerge. My family knows that I am very competitive, so we have fun engaging in friendly competition to see who can find the largest or most beautifully-shaped persimmon and who could fill the five-gallon bucket the fastest. These shared experiences create lasting bonds for us that we look back on for years.

Fuyu persimmons not only make for delicious treats, but they’re packed with healthy benefits too! Packed full of vitamin A and C to bolster immunity and promote skin health, their dietary fiber aids digestion while supporting weight control, plus the presence of antioxidants promotes overall well-being!

Healthy Dieting Tip: This fruit makes you go in the morning due to the high fiber content and is great while on a diet.

I slice them for use in fresh salads, blend them into smoothies, or use them as toppings on desserts, and when they are ripe, I make Fuyu ice cream. Savour the sweet and slightly tart flavor of Fuyu persimmons for an indulgent and varied dining experience. The versatility of the persimmon fruit allows you to be creative in the kitchen and appreciate its natural goodness in various forms!

As you can see here, I ended up with three five-gallon buckets of Fuyu!!! I can freeze the majority of them, so I am able to taste them all year round.

Fuyu persimmon picking with family and celebrating a birthday outdoors in nature creates lasting memories and strengthens bonds, creating unique and unforgettable celebrations that combine the pleasures of nature with delicious food and the comfort of family life. So get together your loved ones, head for the orchard, and set off on an adventure full of natural wonder, tasty flavors, and the love and warmth of family ties.

I'm going out of my comfort zone here in regards to sharing my pictures and my family's crazy road trips and gatherings.

I hope you enjoyed this Fuyu Persimmons trip with us.

What have you and your family started to get back to doing soon after COVID?

I’d love to hear your stories.

Love