Worlds collide as Japan’s hoshigaki dried persimmon fruit finds it home in a South African bottle. The fruit, one of the most highly priced dessert fruits in Japan has, in a world first, been crafted into an exotic limited edition Hoshigaki Gold Liqueur.
Launched exclusively at Montecasino’s trendy 3SIXTY° Liquid Lounge, the hoshigaki dried fruit is known for its unique texture and its toffee-like taste. Even though the Hoshigaki Gold Liqueur represents the flavour profile and aromatics of the dried persimmons fruit, it doesn’t represent the texture of the fruit.
Having been in the food business for 50 years, Hanns Zimelka, technical manager and owner of Foodtech International, said he was proud of the fact that his company only uses specially prepared and selected dried persimmons fruit grown in South Africa, making Hoshigaki Gold Liqueur a 100 per cent South African product.
“I’ve always been fascinated with life in the Far-East. When we visited countries such as China, Malaysia, and Japan, we looked at specific fruits and that’s when I found the hoshigaki fruit,” Zimelka said.
With odds against them, it took Zimelka and the Foodtech International team over two years to make and refine Hoshigaki Gold Liqueur. With great respect for this Japanese tradition, Zimelka said he skilfully mastered the methodology of transferring the flavour profile of the dried persimmon fruit, as closely as possible, into the sensational and completely natural limited edition bottle.
“We were told by people that it was impossible to make. Eventually, we realised that nobody could get the flavour out, but, we found a methodology to get it out because I had done it before. As I reach 50 years in this business, I dedicate this to the South African people.”
3SIXTY° Liquid Lounge, a trendy lounge and restaurant offering some of the best cocktails in Joburg, prepared with style and precision by a team of trained mixologists, is the official home of the luxurious Hoshigaki Gold Liqueur. The liqueur pairs well as a mixer with gin, whisky, bubbly, or on a bed of crushed ice to be sipped for maximum flavour.
Jason Victor, Montecasino food and beverage manager said, “3SIXTY’s involvement extends beyond just being the launch venue. Our upmarket restaurant is partnering with FTI to expose Montecasino’s visitors to the aromatic flavour and exotic taste of this unique liqueur – delivering yet another memorable experience to our guests.”
