Persimmons are commonly talked about throughout the North American homesteading community, especially as a fruit tree. However, you rarely hear about the leaves of a persimmon tree, unless you take a trip into Asia. Did you know that those little leaves pack quite the punch, both nutritionally and in the sense of natural/herbal remedies? Let’s check it out!
What Is Persimmon Leaves?
Persimmon leaves are the green foliage that grows among the branches of the persimmon tree. Persimmon trees are native in southwest Asia, North America, and Europe; they have been introduced in many other areas. Of the many different species of persimmons, the following produce fruit and tend to be widely cultivated to some extent:
- Diospyros kaki: Asian Persimmon, most popular for fruit cultivation.
- Diospyros lotus: Date Plum, as it tastes of these fruits; native to southwest Asia and southeast Europe.
- Diospyros virginiana: American Persimmon; native to the US, and is eaten in many desserts.
- Diospyros digyna: Black Persimmon; native to Mexico with dark fruit.
- Diospyros discolor: Velvet-apple Persimmon, red when ripe. It is native to the Phillipines & China; also called Korean Mango.
- Diospyros peregrina: Yellow-fruited, slow growing, coastal Indian Persimmon; known for use in folk medicine.
- Diospyros texana: Native to central/southern US (Texas/Oklahoma); when fruit becomes dark, it is sweet and edible.
How Are the Leaves Used?
The delicate persimmon fruit leaves are harvested from the tree, and are prepared for meals (less common) or prepared for the drying process. They are cleaned of any dirt or insects, and placed to cure. Only the leaves of acceptable quality are used to produce tea; Diospyros kaki, or the Asian Persimmon, was the species used by the Japanese. The Koreans refer to this special tea as ghamnip cha, making it in much the same way.
Why Did Asians Drink Persimmon Leaf Tea Over the Centuries?
Persimmon leaf tea is believed have nearly 30 x’s the immune system boosting Vitamin C than oranges or many other citrus fruits. Since this vitamin can withstand heat, fighting off illness is one wonderful use for this tea. Before modern medicine, avoiding illness and protecting the body from potential infection was very important. It is known to reduce bloat while the tannins help to improve digestion. Acid reflux sufferers find relief from excessive acid production with this tea, possibly acting as an acid reducer. There is not much information available, aside from testimonials by those who purchase or make their own persimmon teas.
The tea is reputed to help decrease blood pressure with consistent ingestion. This is reported for the fruits themselves, as well. This benefit is due to the high levels of tannins contained within the persimmon tree; however, the research points to under ripe or barely ripe persimmon fruits containing the highest levels of tannins. Since many teas are made from the fruit leaves rather than the standard leaves among the branches, it is very possible that the same holds true for those leaves. If you have high blood pressure that has been lowered with the assistance of persimmon leaf tea, feel free to reach out to us with your experience!