Persimmon sap balls good for anything?

[Cacatch]

I found a persimmon tree yesterday with a bunch of quarter-sized balls of sap stuck to the bark. They weren't really sticky, and softened up once I started pinching and prying them to get them off. I thought I had found a good alternative source for pitch, but then I took them home and tried to melt them and they would not melt! They just pop and crackle and wiggle in the pan as the heat caused them to expand and contract but they never melted at all. They did get a little softer though.

Anyone know if these are good for anything? They look very pretty, different shades of amber. At first glance you'd think you had found top quality tree-sap for pitch making, but they would not melt at all.

Thanks,
CP

[mullet]

 Maybe chewing gum?

[El Destructo]

Ya beat Me to it Eddie!! I used to take the Sap Balls off of our Plum Trees and Chew on them all the time when I was a Kid

[Pat B]

Try dissolving it in alcohol. If it will dissolve you can strain it and make varnish with it. If it is still sticky it will probably still be sticky after the alcohol evaporates. Try it of a test piece.

[Tsalagi]

Wasn't persimmon sap the stuff Possible Possum was always talking about?