Mmmmmm Caqui

I distinctly remember my first experience with the Caqui.  It was my first trip to Rio and I braved a solo trip to the feira (aka. local farmers market).  I did all my shopping and returned to the apartment triumphant.  We were visiting at the time and staying with Daniel's parents and brother.

I pulled out everything I managed to buy without speaking a word of Portuguese. I finally pulled out my last purchase. I was so very proud of this buy.  I told them, I got these tomatoes for practically nothing. Brazilian tomatoes are so much cheaper than American tomatoes at the feira.

Yeah, that would be because they weren't tomatoes.  I had bought a 6 pack of Caquis (or in English Kaki Persimmon).  To add insult to injury, no one in the apartment liked the fruit. 

So I'm trying the fruit out again. My youngest has GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) and I am attempting to expand his available fruits.

It was a success. They are weird little gooey fruits but tasty none-the-less.  Not only am I happy they actually ate a new fruit, I'm stoked because it's really good for you.  Check it out:

Health benefits of persimmon fruit

• The fruit is low in calories (provides 70 cal/100g) and fats but is rich source of dietary fiber.
  
• Persimmons contain many health benefiting phyto-nutrients flavonoid poly-phenolic anti-oxidants like catechins and gallocatechins as well as important anti-tumor compound betulinic acid. Catechins are known to have anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhagic (prevents bleeding from small blood vessels) properties.
  
• Fresh permissions contain anti-oxidant compounds like vitamin-A, beta carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin. These compounds functions as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease processes.
  
• zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid, selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea in the eyes where it is thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions; thus, helps prevent "Age related macular disease"(ARMD) in the elderly.
  
• The fruits are also very good source of vitamin-C, another powerful antioxidant (especially native Chinese and American persimmons; provide 80% of DRI). Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.
  
• The fruit is good in many valuable B-complex vitamins such as folic acid, pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), thiamin...etc. These vitamins acts as co-factors for numerous metabolic enzymatic functions in the body.
  
• Fresh Persimmon fruits also contain healthy amounts of minerals like potassium, manganese (15% of DRI), copper (12% of DRI) and phosphorus. Manganese is a co-factor for the enzyme superoxide dismutase, which is a very powerful free radical scavenger. Copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals function as cofactors for this enzyme are manganese and zinc). Copper is also required for the production of red blood cells. 
  
  Info from http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/persimmon-fruit.html
  
  You should also check out becoming brazilian for more Caqui related fun.
  
  Recipes (in Portuguese) http://www.caqui.com.br/interna.php?pg=receitas