The Influence of Drying on the Nutritional, Microbiological, and Sensory Value of Diospyros kaki L. (Japanese persimmon) Consumed in Herzegovina
Diospyros kaki L. (Japanese persimmon) has been introduced from Asian countries to Herzegovina, where it is mostly consumed fresh. This study investigates the differences in nutritional, microbiological, and sensory values of persimmons consumed in one of the Herzegovinian regions, following drying processes at 70 °C/12 h, 85 °C/10.5 h, and 100 °C/5.5 h, together with their effects on fruit texture, mass, and composition. The notable increase in sugar content emphasises the potential of dried Japanese persimmon as a nutritious snack. No significant increase in microorganism representation was observed across all samples. Persimmons dried using a dehydrator exhibited the most preserved nutritional properties, and were rated highest in sensorial evaluations. However, due to its high water content and browning, the sample dried at 100 °C in an autoclave was excluded from sensory testing.