Shizi Huta is a beloved Xi'an street snack made from ripe local persimmons. The fruit is mashed into a smooth paste, mixed with flour and a touch of sugar, formed into flat discs, and deep-fried until golden brown. The result is a fritter with a satisfyingly crispy exterior and a soft, jammy, intensely sweet interior that tastes like pure autumn sunshine. They're particularly popular during the persimmon season (October to December), when the famous Lintong persimmons near Xi'an are at their peak. The aroma of frying persimmon fritters wafting through Xi'an's ancient hutong streets is an unforgettable sensory experience.
Shaanxi province has grown persimmons for over 2,000 years, and Lintong persimmons were once tribute to imperial courts. Shizi Huta was born as a way to preserve the abundant autumn harvest. Street vendors devised the frying method and it became a winter tradition.