[strudeldog]

Yes when just starting to soften up or just prior. I don't even remove skin, I want to try Hoshigaki method and drying whole at sometime as well. I imagine it improves the product, but you it's hard to slice a fully ripe astringent persimmon, kind of like slicing pudding, but I will try making fruit leather from some. Most the types recommended for drying are astringent, though some folks dry non-astringent. Even the rock hard but colored up ones lost their astringency.

[Snaglpus]

Phil, I have Honan Red, Fuyu and Hachiya. Hoshigaki is made using Hachiya persimmons. Every year, I order 2 boxes of Hoshigaki for Christmas. They are expensive but truly amazing! My Fuyu tree has persimmons on it on. In a few weeks, they will be ready to pick!