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PERSIMMON( AMLOK OR JAPANI PHAL IN URDU) HISTORY AND USES: SPICY PERSIMMON FRUIT SALAD RECIPE

PERSIMMON, (JAPANI PHAL or AMLOK in URDU) DIOSPYROS KAKI

Persimmon is known by many names including, Sharon fruit, Japani Phal or fruit in Urdu, and is Diospyros kaki in Latin. However there are different types of Diospyros, including one that bears a black fruit. The one we have in Pakistan is slightly different to the ones I’ve had in Europe. It’s the same vivid orange colour, but has more water in it - it’s squishier and so is unsuitable for export, which is sad, because it’s a sweet fruit, not like others which are more astringent in taste. The Pakistani variety (Diospyrus lotus) doesn’t leave you with a dry tangy after-taste.

Persimmons originated in the Far East, in China, Japan and Korea and the leaves form the persimmon tree have been used in tisanes for centuries. You can make a tisane from the fresh or dried leaves, and it has a lot more vitamin C in it than green tea (3.5-20.5 times as much in fact). The tea has been used for thousands of years to generally help the body. 
It is rich in fibre and the phenolic content of the leaves is now known to increase the metabolism and removes lipids (fat) from the body through faeces. Because of this action it can help in weight loss.

As with all orange fruit, persimmons are high in beta-carotene and this fruit is an excellent source of iron, so suitable for preventing anaemia. Just 100 grams of the fruit every day improves cardio-vascular health and lowers the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Persimmons also contain ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and calcium and have a high carbohydrate and protein content. They are packed full with substances the body needs for its health.

Persimmons have a high iodine content and regular consumption helps improve the thyroid gland’s functioning. Eating persimmons has many health benefits, but you should try to avoid eating the skin as when ingested the bezoars can react badly in the stomach. People who have had surgery for stomach ulcers shouldn’t eat the skins of the fruit (D Bennarroch 1993).
 In Hazira in North Pakistan it is believed that a surfeit of the fruit eaten with the skin on it caused a small bowel obstruction in 15 children one winter when the fruit was in abundance on the trees.

However, as long as you abstain from eating the skin, the fruit can be really beneficial according to recent medical studies. Persimmons can help to prevent cancer because they are high in vitamin A and the compounds shiboul and betulinic acid which have anti-cancer properties. The phytochemicals known as proanthocyandins are also present in the fruit and these may protect cells against oxidative damage to the skin associated with aging. It has been recommended that you use the fresh skin on your face as a skin toner as it brightens the complexion. It seems that daily applications may also smooth wrinkles, or stop them appearing.

They are so good for you that you have to try them if you haven’t eaten them before go out and buy some, as winter is the best time to find them. You can make ice cream or smoothies with them and try this recipe below.



SPICY PERSIMMON FRUIT SALAD

Ingredients

4 persimmon, peeled and chopped

1 large apple, peeled and chopped

2 bananas, chopped

1 bunch grapes, halved

2 green cardamom pods, seeds removed and husks discarded

5 or 6 cloves

¼ tsp finely grated nutmeg

1 tsp powdered cinnamon

1 small pot yoghurt

Chopped pistachios to garnish



Method

Grind the cardamom seeds with the cloves and a ½ inch piece of cinnamon stick if you prefer this to already ground cinnamon.

Put fruit in a bowl and mix the spices into the yoghurt.

Pour the yoghurt mixture over the fruit and stir. Garnish with chopped pistachio nuts.

This has Taste and is a Treat.

31 comments:

  1. ohhhhh my god.how ignorant i am.i always use o eat plenty of persimmon along with its skin.Now i will never eat its skin.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Salam...
    Thanks for the info... It really helped me a lot... I was searching for its name in English and finally I found it on your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  3. thank u for providing so nice information about my favorite fruit.

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  4. Persimmons from pakistan are the variety which the ancient greeks called the fruit of the Gods, no wonder! (Also called Khormalu in parts of Pak + Iran) They are about a 100 times better than the varieties I ve had in North America which are Chinese/Japanese or American varieties.
    btw persimmon mousse is also awesome. Substitution of persimmon in desserts which might use Passion Fruit or even Mango works very well too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have 100 tree of Persimmon.
    please suggest me the market of this fruits.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Kapoor, You can contact your nearest dry fruit suppliers in India. Thanksa

      Delete
  6. Try your local fruit sellers and see if you can get a contract to supply your persimmons to them.If this fails try a wholesale supplier such as www.alibaba.com on line.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ASSALAM O ALAIKUM

    Dear bro i was searching its name in English
    so i found it on your blog thanks.

    Milad Ashraf

    ReplyDelete
  8. Usman Butt

    Aslam o Alykum!
    One of the my favorite fruit. l like it very much.
    Thank you for providing the excellent information about my favorite fruit.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I was looking for the name of this fruit in English
    Most thanks I found it here with some additional information
    thanks
    saqib

    ReplyDelete
  10. I don't know this fruit name in English in only know urdu name amlok now I know English name of this fruit through this site and knowledge of this fruit as well

    ReplyDelete
  11. I had no idea this fruit contains a lot of health benefits. Thanks a lot for informing us.

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  12. :) i got the name of japani phalin english finally.... :)
    information is also very helpful...thx n keep it up..

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you Farhan. It's nice to be appreciated!

    ReplyDelete
  14. finally i got its name in english. thanx

    ReplyDelete
  15. really very good information, appreciating, good job

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow!! i was wondering what the english name is
    and thanks for all the information!!
    i Love this fruit
    but hate the tangy taste at the end,do u know any way of avoiding it?
    thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  17. thankgod i am very glad to know this fruit name but its name is unique

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanx for your kind information.
    Very helpfull and its a great fruit to eat
    With great benefits too.
    Kind regards
    jaadu

    ReplyDelete
  19. The information provided in the blog is very helpful for me. My mom is a thyroid patient and beta-carotene is helpful in hair growth. i was so ignorant about the qualities of Japani phal. this fruit almost have all the important nutrients needed a human body specially a woman if talks about the iron. ..
    thank you..

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  20. i love your site realy good information i found it thx

    ReplyDelete
  21. thanks guys for providing so interesting info.

    ReplyDelete
  22. hi I was searching on google scholar, there is a study that shows that persimmon leaf extract inhibits melanin in skin and has visible anti-wrinkle effect. the study is as follows:
    Inhibition of Enzyme Activities and the Antiwrinkle Effect of Polyphenol Isolated from the Persimmon Leaf (Diospyros kaki folium) on Human Skin
    I didnt know that these loquats we consume so commonly are the persimmon fruit actually!! woww

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  23. Persimmons have a high iodine content and regular consumption helps improve the thyroid gland’s functioning. Eating persimmons has many health benefits, but you should try to avoid eating the skin as when ingested the bezoars can react badly in the stomach. People who have had surgery for stomach ulcers shouldn’t eat the skins of the fruit (D Bennarroch 1993). In Hazira in North Pakistan it is believed that a surfeit of the fruit eaten with the skin on it caused a small bowel obstruction in 15 children one winter when the fruit was in abundance on the trees

    ReplyDelete
  24. Its really helpful for reader.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Its really helpful for reader.

    ReplyDelete
  26. This is a great article. I’ve read in many
    other places before that but
    I did not get this type of effective and
    more useful text. It is really important now to
    vary your anchors as this seems more natural to user.
    This article helped me a lot to understand information.
    <a href="http://www.japanioilandcapsule.com" title=" Japani capsules" 
    target="_ capsules</a>

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thanks for elaborate information about the Japane Phal (Persimmon)and very practical advise not to eat skin. M.K.Jaura





































































    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  28. Juicy, fruit.

    Allah is Great,

    Imagine the kind of Amlok we have in Jannat.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hello I have a question why its called japni phal in urdu .is any myth behind this..or its discovered in jappan etc..

    ReplyDelete