Hi everyone
We were able to attend yesterday, and yes, I’ve got a video in the works (one of several) re: Cliff and the tasting event. We got there a day early and filmed a bit the afternoon prior.
For persimmon, I’ll echo a few others – the clear winners were
H63a (D. virginiana)
Lehman 100-46 (D. virginiana)
Prok x Hokkaido (Cliff’s original hybrid)
Claypool H-120 (D. virginiana)
UKR 15-9 (Derevyanko unnamed hybrid)
Sosnovskaya (Derevyanko UKR Hybrid)
Celebrity U20a - the most “Unique” of the D. virginianas. Thick texture, mellow flavor.
Emphasis on UKR 15-9, it’s really something special. I believe only a couple other people tried this fruit, it was passed over by Cliff. It’s got the kaki skin/outer flesh, with a jelly middle, and just the best American persimmon flavor. BIG fruit, too. It’s excellent.
H63a, the “Paradise” persimmon, lived up to the hype. It’s just a wonderful balanced, slap in the face of everything that’s good about D. virginiana.
Kasandra is quite good too- it’s got a sweetness and a bit of the American persimmon complexity. It’s not just a sugar bomb like Nikita’s Gift is.
Bliznetsnaja and Kulinaja - Bliznets is more top-shaped, Kuli more oblate, both are good, not remarkable, but solid hybrid flavor and excellent size.
Rosseyanka, the classic hybrid is an exact mix of Kaki and Virginiana. Like, to the T.
Strong flavor from both participants, but also mellow enough to eat more than one.
I’ll have a video soon. Hopefully.