After the solar term known as Frost's Descent, persimmons in Fuping County, Shaanxi Province, enter their harvest season. The dried persimmons produced here are made from a distinctive local variety known as "Fupingjin persimmon." Turning fresh persimmons into dried ones involves several processing steps—washing, peeling, shaping through kneading and sun-drying, setting and frosting.

Fuping Dried Persimmons

In the traditional process of making dried persimmons, peeled fruits are hung to dry for more than 50 days. During this period, workers repeatedly knead them gently by hand—a process known as "kneading the heart," which helps distribute the sugars in the fruit evenly. This repeated hand-kneading gives the dried persimmons their exceptionally soft texture and creates a molten heart within.

Fuping Dried Persimmons

The finished persimmons are coated with a layer of sweet persimmon frost, while their centers are melt-in-your-mouth soft, translucent and crystal-clear, with a jelly-like texture.

Fuping Dried Persimmons

Persimmons are rich in nutrients, including vitamins, carotene, riboflavin and other nutrients the body needs. They are traditionally valued for helping relieve coughs, reduce phlegm and soothe mouth sores.