The dryness is deceptive. An unripe persimmon does not sponge water from the mouth; its tannins bind to proteins in saliva, interfering with the lubrication that lets oral surfaces glide past one another. Moisture is not the culprit. What feels like sudden thirst is a change in friction, a small chemical disturbance with an outsized sensory effect.Texture tells the better story. Astringency, the t...More