There are two types of persimmons: the round squat fuyu and the more upright heart -
shaped hachiya.
Not exact matches
Fuyus are flatter in
shape and lower maintenance than
hachiya, but, in my opinion, also less fun.
Hachiya persimmons are the persimmons you see pictured in this post, they are acorn -
shaped and have to be completely ripened before consumption (unripe
hachiya can cause an unpleasant, astringent feeling in your mouth).
The fuyu persimmons, which are
shaped like a tomato and are a vibrant orange are ripe and ready to eat when firm (basically as - is from the grocery store), unlike the
hachiya persimmons which must be soft before eating.