Persimmon. Date plum. Kaki. A soft, sweet winter fruit similar to a large tomato, originating in China and unknown in Europe until shown in Paris in 1873. It has green skin which ripens to a glossy orange red. It is eaten as a dessert in fruit salads or used in jam (US: jelly).
"Cactus fig." Prickly pear. The delicious but risky fruit of a cactus. The sweet, juicy flesh ripens from green to a deep apricot-pink colour. It is sensible to use leather gloves when dealing with these fruit as they are covered in fine, penetrating prickles. They are normally eaten raw but can be cooked, with the edible seeds becoming hard with cooking.
