Persimmons are moderately high in sugar compared to most common fruits. A single Fuyu persimmon contains about 21 grams of sugar, which puts it above apples and oranges but below dried fruits and bananas by weight. Whether that matters for you depends on portion size and how your body handles sugar.
Sugar Content Compared to Other Fruits
A medium Fuyu persimmon (168 grams) delivers roughly 21 grams of sugar. For comparison, a cup of orange sections (180 grams) has about 17 grams, and a cup of chopped apple (125 grams) has around 13 grams. So persimmons do land on the higher end of the fruit sugar spectrum, though they’re not extreme outliers. Grapes and cherries are in a similar range.
The sugar in persimmons is mostly sucrose, which makes up the largest share in the vast majority of persimmon varieties. Glucose and fructose are present too, but sucrose typically dominates, accounting for anywhere from about 25% to 85% of the total soluble sugars depending on the variety. This is somewhat unusual among fruits, where fructose often leads.
How Persimmons Affect Blood Sugar
Raw persimmons have a glycemic index (GI) of 50, which falls in the low GI category (anything under 55). A standard 150-gram serving carries a glycemic load of about 10, which is considered moderate. In practical terms, this means persimmons raise blood sugar more gradually than you might expect given their sweetness.
The reason is fiber. Persimmons are rich in soluble dietary fiber, which slows down the digestion of carbohydrates and helps prevent sharp blood sugar spikes. That fiber acts as a built-in buffer, so the sugar doesn’t hit your bloodstream all at once the way it would from juice or dried fruit.
For people managing blood sugar levels, the key is portion size. A whole large persimmon contains roughly 20 to 21 grams of carbohydrate from sugar alone. Eating half a persimmon keeps you in a range similar to most other single fruit servings. Pairing it with a source of protein or fat (nuts, yogurt, cheese) can further slow the glucose response.
Nutritional Tradeoffs
Persimmons earn their sugar calories. Half a medium persimmon provides about 27% of the daily value for vitamin A and 11% for vitamin C. They’re also a notable source of antioxidants, particularly the orange and red pigments that give them their color. These compounds support eye health, immune function, and reduce inflammation.
That nutrient density is worth considering when you weigh the sugar content. A persimmon with 21 grams of sugar delivers fiber, vitamins, and protective plant compounds alongside it. A granola bar with the same sugar content typically does not. The sugar in whole fruit comes packaged with everything your body needs to process it well.
Fresh vs. Dried Persimmons
Dried persimmons are a different story. The drying process concentrates the sugars dramatically, so a small handful of dried persimmon slices can easily contain two to three times the sugar of a fresh fruit. If sugar intake is a concern, stick with fresh persimmons and treat dried versions the way you would any dried fruit: as a calorie-dense snack best eaten in small amounts.
The Bottom Line on Portions
If you’re eating fruit as part of a balanced diet and don’t have a specific medical reason to restrict sugar, a whole persimmon is a perfectly reasonable serving. If you’re watching your carbohydrate intake closely, half a persimmon keeps the sugar and glycemic load in a comfortable range. The fiber and low glycemic index mean persimmons behave better in your body than their sweetness suggests.