{"id":358067,"date":"2025-12-19T10:04:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/358067\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T10:04:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:04:09","slug":"india-cant-get-enough-of-persimmon-this-winter-whats-behind-the-hype","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/358067\/","title":{"rendered":"India can\u2019t get enough of persimmon this winter. What\u2019s behind the hype?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Going viral today doesn\u2019t always require something entirely new or outrageous &#8211; often, it\u2019s all about how a familiar idea is packaged and presented. Persimmons are a perfect example. Also known as ramphal or amarphal, the fruit has been around for centuries, but recent conversations have suddenly put it in the spotlight.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, Sarthak Arora, a popular internet figure and chartered accountant, shared a video about how persimmons are growing rapidly in India and are proving to be more profitable for farmers.<\/p>\n<p>His video has amassed over 4.2 million views.<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, actress Bhagyashree, who runs the wellness series Tuesday Tips with Bhagyashree on her Instagram profile, also shared a video about the fruit a few days ago.<\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s not all. Katrina Kaif, who is known for her disciplined approach to fitness, mentioned in an interview last year that persimmons are a regular part of her morning diet.<\/p>\n<p>The fruit has also found its way into the culinary spotlight, with chefs and home cooks experimenting with persimmon-based desserts.<\/p>\n<p>All about the viral persimmon<\/p>\n<p>The fruit is native to China, but due to its extensive cultivation in Japan, it is also commonly referred to as the Japanese persimmon.<\/p>\n<p>In India, the ramphal season typically begins around September-October and continues through December. Hachiya, Fuyu and Jiro are among the commonly grown varieties cultivated across the country.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re not alone if you\u2019ve overlooked the fruit, often mistaking it for a hybrid of an orange or a tomato. Its appearance can be visually confusing.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, persimmon cultivation has been on the rise, largely because it offers better returns than fruits like apples, particularly in Himachal Pradesh\u2019s Kullu region. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freshplaza.com\/asia\/article\/9787644\/indian-persimmon-acreage-in-kullu-doubles-to-404-hectares\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">a report by Fresh Plaza<\/a>, persimmon cultivation in the Kullu district covered 200 hectares in 2023 and expanded to 404 hectares by 2025. Reports suggest that the fruit is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiatoday.in\/india\/story\/japanese-persimmons-thriving-kashmir-likely-to-boost-farmers-income-2455269-2023-10-29\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">becoming increasingly profitable<\/a> for farmers in terms of both yield and income.<\/p>\n<p>As of now, persimmons are widely available in markets.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRamphal has been around forever, but people don\u2019t buy it as commonly as apples. It\u2019s very good for joint pain relief,\u201d says Pappu Kumar, a regular fruit seller in Noida, speaking to India Today.<\/p>\n<p>However, he also expressed concern over the poor harvest this season, noting that heavy rainfall and flooding across North India have resulted in minimal profits for fruit sellers.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s common to confuse a persimmon with orange or tomatoes. (Photo: Unsplash)\n<\/p>\n<p>Himachal Pradesh may be known as the Apple Bowl of North India, but apple cultivation requires greater investment in pesticides and more intensive farming practices compared to persimmons. The fruit is primarily grown in northern states such as Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, and is also cultivated in a few regions of Northeast India.<\/p>\n<p>Rich in antioxidants, great winter fruit<\/p>\n<p>Beyond their farming advantages, persimmons also offer notable health benefits. While the fruit has long existed, experts say its growing popularity on health-conscious plates stems from its strong nutritional profile, making it a smart addition to winter diets.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPersimmons are emerging as a seasonal superfruit in India, and their nutritional value makes them an excellent choice for winter,\u201d says Vidhi Chawla, dietician and founder of FISICO Diet and Aesthetic Clinic.<\/p>\n<p>Naturally rich in antioxidants, fibre, and essential micronutrients, persimmons support overall health. Chawla explains that their combination of soluble and insoluble fibre aids digestion while helping regulate hunger and cholesterol. \u201cTheir antioxidants &#8211; beta-carotene, tannins, catechins, and vitamin C &#8211; help combat inflammation and oxidative stress,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n<p>The fruit also contains vitamins A and E, folate, and minerals such as potassium, copper, and manganese, all of which contribute to skin health and overall well-being. Low in fat, moderate in calories, and high in benefits, persimmons are an easy nutritional fit.<\/p>\n<p>Persimmons serve myriad of health benefits (Photo: Pexels)\n<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, persimmons fall in the medium glycaemic range, meaning they aren\u2019t off the table for diabetics but do require mindful portions. When eaten whole rather than juiced, paired with protein, and consumed in moderation, they can still fit into a diabetes-friendly diet.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTheir high fibre content slows glucose absorption and prevents sharp spikes. However, they are naturally sweet, so diabetics should limit intake to half or one small fruit at a time, ideally paired with nuts or another protein source,\u201d explains Chawla.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s always a \u2018but\u2019<\/p>\n<p>No food is without its downsides. Chawla cautions that excessive consumption &#8211; especially of unripe persimmons &#8211; can lead to constipation due to their tannin content. Those with sensitive digestion or existing gut issues should keep portions modest. \u201cIf you\u2019re closely monitoring blood sugar or following a strict low-carb plan, moderation is key,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n<p>While rare, individuals with latex\u2013fruit sensitivities, such as reactions to bananas, kiwis, or avocados, may experience mild symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>Simply put, ripe persimmons eaten in reasonable portions remain a feel-good choice.<\/p>\n<p>Bottom line<\/p>\n<p>Persimmons may have been around for generations, but they were largely overlooked until recently. Now, they\u2019re showing up everywhere &#8211; from social media and celebrity diets to fruit carts and dessert recipes.<\/p>\n<p>According to Chawla, dietitians are increasingly viewing persimmons as a nutrient-dense seasonal fruit, incorporating them into meal plans for clients seeking antioxidants, gut-friendly fibre, and variety.<\/p>\n<p>As with most things, balance and moderation make all the difference in enjoying this winter favourite.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Ends<\/p>\n<p>Published By: <\/p>\n<p>Jigyasa Sahay<\/p>\n<p>Published On: <\/p>\n<p>Dec 19, 2025<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Going viral today doesn\u2019t always require something entirely new or outrageous &#8211; often, it\u2019s all about how a&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":358068,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[195844,64,63,137,532,195838,195839,195843,195841,195840,195842],"class_list":{"0":"post-358067","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-amarphal","9":"tag-au","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-health","12":"tag-nutrition","13":"tag-persimmon","14":"tag-persimmons-benefits","15":"tag-ramphal","16":"tag-viral-chinese-fruit","17":"tag-viral-japani-fruit","18":"tag-viral-wellness-trend"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358067","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=358067"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358067\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/358068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=358067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=358067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=358067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}