Hot take, but I think persimmons are the best winter fruit. They come in so many different sizes and textures, but taste equally delicious and sweet. They’re the perfect addition to any matcha or latte, and don’t need any additional sugar! So, if you love jammy flavors with creamy tea, you’re going to love this persimmon matcha latte.

Here’s how to make this delicious drink at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s all natural, no hard-to-pronounce ingredients anywhere.
• Use seasonal produce that’s perfectly ripe in the winter!
• No sugar needed, just ripe fruit.
• Persimmon and matcha pair so perfectly.
• It’s super easy and takes less than 5 minutes to make for a cafe-quality beverage!

What are Persimmons?

These orange tomato-apple-looking fruits are a winter fruit that is native to China and spread to neighboring countries: Japan and Korea. Persimmons are categorized by astringency: astringent and non-astringent. Of the astringent variety, the Japanese hachiya is best known, and of the non-astringent, fuyu.

In California, persimmon trees are virtually everywhere, and you’ll see both varieties. Everyone has their preference for what they like more, but they’re quite different. Ripe hachiya persimmons are super jammy (almost jelly-like) and incredibly sweet, with a hint of astringency. Fuyu persimmons, on the other hand, are crunchy, sweet, and firm.

I personally love both, but the hachiya persimmon is better for this drink since it’s soft and sweet.

Do Persimmon and Matcha Taste Good Together?

Now, that’s up to you! But personally, I think the two are a great combination. Matcha lattes pair really nicely with fruit that cuts the earthiness, like strawberry or banana. Persimmons aren’t very tart but have a lot of sweetness that makes them great for adding to a plain latte. They’re also pretty mild in flavor, so it doesn’t overpower the matcha either.

The best way to describe persimmons is that they taste like fruity honey.

Best Persimmons to Use

As mentioned, ripe hachiya persimmons are the best to use in this recipe. They’re naturally incredibly soft when ripe, so soft that you can literally squeeze the flesh straight into your cup. You also don’t need to add any sugar because it’s already honey-sweet. Just mix it into milk and enjoy!

If you only have fuyu, I would make a macerated syrup (equal parts cut fruit and sugar) and use that to flavor the latte. You could also puree it, but it will have a thick texture.

How to Know if a Persimmon is Ripe. It’s all in the texture! Ripe hachiya persimmons will be soft to the touch with slightly wrinkled skin. The skin will also be slightly darker, maybe a deep orange vs. light orange. Don’t eat a hachiya persimmon when it’s not ripe; it will be super astringent and unpleasant.

Persimmon Matcha Latte: What You’ll Need

Equipment:

• Matcha bowl
• Bamboo whisk
• Tea sifter

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe Hachiya persimmon
• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup ice

Persimmon Matcha Latte Recipe

1. Cut a Persimmon. Cut a ripe hachiya persimmon in half crosswise and separate the two halves. It might not come out clean down the middle, and that’s normal!
2. Whisk Matcha. Sift matcha powder into a tea bowl and add hot water. Whisk using a chasen for 20 – 30 seconds in a zigzag motion until a froth forms. It should resemble espresso crema.
3. Assemble Drink. Squeeze or scoop the persimmon flesh into a glass, then add ice, milk, and the whisked matcha on top. If you want it extra sweet, add a little bit of condensed milk.
4. Mix and Enjoy!

Tips for the Best Persimmon Matcha Latte

• Use Ripe Persimmons: I cannot emphasize this enough, but unripe hachiya persimmons are not pleasant. They’re super astringent, bitter, and can make your mouth feel furry or numb. Make sure your persimmons are ripe and soft to the touch.
• Add Spices: Persimmons are an amazing winter fruit and pair well with a lot of warming spices. You can add a little cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, or allspice to give it a fall feel. Persimmons are great in bread, similar to banana bread.
• Use Non-Dairy Milk: Persimmons have a lot of tannins and acids, especially when unripe. The level decreases as it ripens, but it may curdle your milk slightly. If you don’t like that texture, use a non-dairy milk, like oat milk, for a smoother texture.
• Make Layers: Orange and green make such a beautiful color combination and look great against white milk. This is the perfect opportunity to make layers in your latte! Make a layer of fruit on the bottom, then pour the milk over ice so it doesn’t mix with the fruit. Repeat with the matcha!

Frequently Asked Questions

What do persimmons pair well with?

Persimmons are great with savory and sweet food! It’s similar to how jam goes well with charcuterie. You can add it to a cheeseboard, in salad, with nuts, or in soup! For sweet treats, I like to add it to yogurt, milk, ice cream, etc.

Can you mix persimmon with milk?

Yes! Milk pairs nicely with many fruits, persimmon included. Persimmons are slightly acidic when ripe, so they might curdle the milk slightly, but it’s perfectly fine to consume. I like to add it with soft hachiya persimmon and mix until it becomes a slightly thick drinkable smoothie texture.

Other Fruity Matcha Lattes to Try

Persimmons are the best winter fruit and make such a nice addition to matcha. If you also love fruit in your matcha, then you need to try these other fruity matcha recipes:

• Banana Milk Matcha Latte
• Cranberry Matcha Latte
• Peaches and Cream Matcha Latte
• Mango Matcha Latte
• Strawberry Matcha Latte (with Boba)