In Asia, the center of origin of persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.), more than 2000 different varieties are present, most of then being astringent. Beyond such variability, there are a lot of different methods to remove the astringency of fruit and each treatment is more approachable for each cultivar and local of production. The different methods to remove the astringency are based, mostly, at the accumulation of acetaldehyde at the flesh fruit that induce the polymerization of the soluble tannin molecules, responsible for the astringency formation, turning them into an insoluble and non astringent substance. The most used methods are: ethanol vapor application which activates alcohol dehydrogenase and increases the acetaldehyde accumulation; and application of anaerobic atmosphere, that induces the transformation of piruvate into acetaldehyde in a reaction catalyzed by the piruvate descarboxilase. This review aims to argue the main factors to be observed in the astringency removal process of persimmon fruit, such as method to be used, temperature to remove astringency, time of exposure to the treatment, fruit ripening at time of astringency removal, among others.
tannin; acetaldehyde; ethanol; carbon dioxide
