where do edible chestnuts come from

Chestnuts

• Overview. Chestnuts are the edible nuts of Chestnut trees (Castanea sativa). ...
• Identification. The edible nuts have several layers covering them. ...
• Nutrition Info. Chestnuts are lower in calories than other nuts, but they are also less nutrient-dense. ...
• Selection. ...
• Storage. ...
• Preparation. ...
• Free Recipe Book. ...

Full Answer

How can you tell if a chestnut is edible?

• Choose hard and shiny chestnuts without rotten spots or holes.
• Shake chestnuts individually; any that rattle are not good for eating.
• A fresh chestnut should feel heavy for its size.
• Squeeze the chestnut and feel for a mild give between the outer shell and the meat inside. ...

Are chestnuts and water chestnuts the same thing?

Tree chestnuts belong to the beech tree family, which are forest trees and shrubs. The Chestnuts are shiny brown color nuts that develop from catkin-like flowers. The Water Chestnut belongs to the sedge family, which is rush like plants that live in boggy or aquatic places.

Are Conkers and chestnuts the same thing?

They both look similar, and conkers is often called as horse chestnuts, and this confuses a lot of people. One thing we need to understand is that chestnuts are sweet and they are edible but conkers or horse chestnuts are poisonous, and they are not for eating purposes.

Are the nuts from a chestnut tree edible?

There are four different varieties of edible chestnuts: American, European, Chinese and Japanese. The chestnut tree is related to the beech and the oak tree. Chestnuts used to be the main starch staple in Europe until the potato was introduced. When edible chestnuts are boiled the nuts have a similar texture to potatoes, with a sweet nutty flavor.

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Where do edible chestnuts grow?

Chestnut trees are found naturally in the landscape, in green spaces as ornamentals and are also planted in orchards for nut production. Edible chestnut species found in Michigan include the American chestnut, Chinese chestnut, Japanese chestnut, European chestnut and chinquapin.

Can I eat the chestnuts from my tree?

Although the shell is very difficult to remove, chestnuts are edible. However, it is rare to eat them raw and can even be dangerous for certain people. Chestnuts are more traditionally eaten when roasted, especially around the holidays.

What tree produces edible chestnuts?

The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree of the beech family native to eastern North America. As is true of all species in genus Castanea, the American chestnut produces burred fruit with edible nuts.

How do I know if my chestnuts are edible?

An edible chestnut will have a shiny brown color, a flat bottom and a point on the top. Non-edible chestnuts will not have this point at the top. Look at the casing the chestnut is wrapped in when hanging on the tree. An edible chestnut will have a shiny brown color, a flat bottom and a point on the top.

What happens if you eat too many chestnuts?

Raw chestnuts are safe to eat for most people. However, they do contain tannic acid, which means they could cause stomach irritation, nausea, or liver damage if you have liver disease or experience a lot of kidney problems.

Are wild chestnuts safe to eat?

While cultivated or wild sweet chestnuts are edible, horse chestnuts are toxic, and can cause digestive disorders such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, or throat irritation.

Do American chestnut trees still exist?

Mature American chestnuts have been virtually extinct for decades. The tree's demise started with something called ink disease in the early 1800s, which steadily killed chestnut in the southern portion of its range.

How many American chestnut trees are left?

Today, there are fewer than 1,000 American chestnut trees, largely in isolated areas outside of the tree's historical range in the eastern half of the United States, along the Appalachian mountain ridge and throughout New England.

Where do chestnut trees grow in the US?

The American chestnut tree (Castanea dentata) once occupied forests as far south as central Alabama, west through Tennessee, and as far north as Maine and southern Ontario. In some forests, they made up more than half the mass of living trees.

How do you prepare chestnuts from a tree?

1:133:14Chestnut Harvest - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what you'll do is you'll pick up the chestnut. And with us with a sharp paring knife just put aMoreSo what you'll do is you'll pick up the chestnut. And with us with a sharp paring knife just put a small slot in it and then turn it and do another one. So you make a little X.

Are raw chestnuts poisonous?

American chestnuts have high concentrations of tannic acid and will make you ill if you eat them raw. European chestnuts may or may not be eaten raw, depending on the chestnut. Asian chestnuts are generally approved to eat raw, but there is no guarantee that eating a raw chestnut will not make you ill.

What time of year do you pick chestnuts?

Chestnuts are typically harvested mid-September through November and are one of the easiest nut varieties to harvest and prepare for storage. Here's what you do: Wait for the chestnuts to fall to the ground.

How do you process fresh chestnuts?

Processing should be done every few days during picking. Leave freshly-gathered raw chestnuts in a dry place for a few days after harvest to sweeten up first. On a chopping board, use a sharp knife to cut off the base and brown skin, put the nut in a steamer over a pot and steam them for about 20 minutes.

What color is an edible chestnut?

An edible chestnut will have a shiny brown color, a flat bottom and a point on the top.

What is the tree that grows chestnuts?

The chestnut tree is related to the beech and the oak tree. Chestnuts used to be the main starch staple in Europe until the potato was introduced. When edible chestnuts are boiled the nuts have a similar texture to potatoes, with a sweet nutty flavor. Now chestnuts are not as popular as they once were, but there are commercial farms to supply ...

How to tell if a chestnut tree is a horse chestnut?

Identify the tree that the chestnut has fallen from as a chestnut tree . A horse chestnut tree has a rounder shaped leaf, and these leaves group together in a fan of about seven leaves. Look at the casing the chestnut is wrapped in when hanging on the tree.

What is a water chestnut?

A water chestnut is a native Asian aquatic plant with corms on the roots that are harvested and used in many Asian dishes. There are four different varieties of edible chestnuts: American, European, Chinese and Japanese. The chestnut tree is related to the beech and the oak tree. Chestnuts used to be the main starch staple in Europe until ...

What does a chestnut look like?

Remove the chestnut from the burr and look at the shape of the fruit. An edible chestnut will have a shiny brown color, a flat bottom and a point on the top. Non-edible chestnuts will not have this point at the top.

What is a chestnut wrapped in?

Look at the casing the chestnut is wrapped in when hanging on the tree. An edible chestnut is wrapped in a spiny case that is called a burr. The spines are long and fine. If it is an Ohio buckeye, the outer casing has many thick, knobby spurs.

Why are chestnut trees rare?

Mature American chestnut trees are rare in the wild due to infestation by the chestnut blight in the early 20th century. To identify an edible chestnut in the wild is not very hard; you just need to know what you are looking for.

Where do chestnut trees grow?

Deciduous chestnut trees grow worldwide, particularly in the northern hemisphere. Once a staple food of Indigenous peoples and the source of a prized hardwood, American Chestnut trees thrived in the woodlands of the eastern United States. But a fungus essentially wiped them out in the first half of the 20th century.

What Are Chestnuts?

Chestnuts are the edible fruit of deciduous trees in the family Castanea, which grows in Europe, North America, and Asia. Along with hazelnuts, they are one of the only nuts that are actually fruits as opposed to seeds. (Except for peanuts, which are legumes.)

What is the difference between horse chestnuts and sweet chestnuts?

There's also frequent confusion about the difference between sweet chestnuts and horse chestnuts. Horse chestnuts are the fruit of a different tree, Aesculus hippocastanum, sometimes called the horse chestnut or buckeye tree. These nuts are toxic. This isn't an issue if you purchase your chestnuts, since horse chestnuts aren't cultivated or sold as food. But if you're foraging, note that horse chestnut husks are shiny and spiny, whereas sweet chestnuts grow in a husk that is covered in what looks like grassy, spiky hair or fur.

How many nuts are in a chestnut?

Chestnuts grow in clusters of up to 7 nuts inside inedible spiny husks. The nut inside is smooth, shiny and dark brown in color, and they way the nuts are pressed together within the husk means that each one has a flat side and a rounded side.

How long can you keep chestnuts in the fridge?

While this actually makes for better eating, the nuts become more perishable as they dry. Refrigerate store-bought chestnuts promptly and use them within a few weeks. Fresh chestnuts can also be frozen for up to six months.

What is the most common chestnut?

While the North American, Chinese and Japanese chestnuts are cultivated for food, the most common variety, traditionally eaten during the holiday season from Thanksgiving through New Years, is the European chestnut, Castanea sativa, or sweet chestnut.

What is chestnut flour used for?

Chestnut flour is used to make fritters, cakes, pasta, and even polenta.

Where do chestnut trees grow?

Native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, chestnuts favor ample sunshine and mildly acidic soil. The chestnut trees grown on slopes usually produce fruit with better quality. A 2,500-year-old chestnut tree in Hebei's Xingtai county still produces 100 kilograms of chestnuts every year. The fruit tastes sweeter than others.

Where are chestnuts grown in China?

Known as “the hometown of chestnuts in China,” Qianxin county in Hebei Province enjoys mild temperature, long hours of sunshine and bountiful rainfall, which make for delicious chestnuts. The county now produces 24,000 tons of chestnuts and exports 10 million kilograms of the nut to countries like Japan, Australia and some Southeast Asian countries.

How many types of chestnuts are there?

There are four main types of chestnuts, namely American, European, Chinese and Japanese chestnuts. Chinese chestnuts date back thousands of years with the first mention in books around 6,000 years ago. Today, China is the world’s largest chestnut producing country, and Hebei Province in north China is a major contributor.

Where did Japan get its chestnuts from?

Japan originally imported chestnuts from China's Tianjin port. A bag of “Tianjin Chestnut” appeared in an episode of the Japanese manga series Crayon Shin-chan. Although they are known as “Tianjin Chestnut,” the imported chestnuts were actually produced in Beijing, Hubei Province and other places in China.

Why are chestnuts sold in supermarkets?

Raw chestnuts are sold in supermarkets in winter because eating roasted chestnuts is seen as a Christmas tradition.

Where did chestnut trees come from?

The majority of the chestnut trees found in North America now come from native European or Chinese stock, but Indigenous peoples feasted on North America's own variety, Castanea dentata, long before colonizers brought their varieties to North America.

How long do chestnut trees live?

Highly valued chestnut lumber resembles its cousin, the oak, in both color and texture. In colonial times, the rot-resistant wood and the edible nuts contributed to the burgeoning North American economy along with the enslavement of African people. Also known for their tanning properties, the trees can live for 1,000 years and usually do not begin to produce fruit until they reach 40 years old.

What was the first food eaten by man?

Probably one of the first foods eaten by man, the chestnut dates back to prehistoric times. "The Christmas Song" established it as an endearing holiday treat in 20th century America. Yet in Europe, Asia, and Africa, chestnuts often substitute for potatoes in everyday dishes.

What is the nutritional value of chestnuts?

High in fiber and vitamin C, chestnuts also contain a day's worth of selenium in one nut. Legend has it that the Greek army survived on their stores of chestnuts during their retreat from Asia Minor in 401 to 399 B.C. The Japanese began cultivating chestnuts even before they began growing rice.

Is chestnut flour gluten free?

Chestnut flour is gluten-free, and Italian cooks especially use it to prepare many types of sweet cakes. Chestnuts can also be pureed into soups, sauteed and used to top pasta, added to casseroles, baked into desserts, and folded into ice cream. You can also roast them for eating out of hand.

What tree do chestnuts come from?

Chestnuts simply grow on the chestnut tree, however, there are several species (about fifteen discovered). We talk about them below.

What is the meaning of chestnut tree?

Symbol of quiet strength and justice , the chestnut tree is a member of the large family Fagaceae. The Castanea genus includes about fifteen species of deciduous trees that grow peacefully in the forests of southern Europe, northern United States and Asia Minor, where they originated.

What causes red spots on chestnut trees?

The chestnut canker Cryphonectria parasitica is an Asian fungus very virulent in our country and in America. It causes reddish blisters on the bark. It has invaded 80 million hectares of forests in the eastern United States in 50 years and led to the elimination of the American chestnut Castanea dentata and all the insects that depend on this tree.

What is the name of the moth that eats chestnuts?

Chestnut codling moth (Cydia splendana) produces small pink or white caterpillars 0.1 inch long that gnaw on the fruit. Control methods include picking up all fallen chestnuts and burning infested ones. This action limits the number of caterpillars that burrow into the ground to metamorphose into moths. Then during the winter and following spring, cultivate the soil superficially to dislodge the overwintering larvae. There are also pheromone traps that divert the male moth from the female.

Why do chestnuts taste sweeter?

Called “jacques”, they were consumed dry or rehydrated. This action gives a sweeter taste to the chestnut because the starch is transformed into fast sugars.

What is the average temperature for chestnut trees in July?

Average temperatures in July-August must reach at least 68°F (old varieties could fruit between 50 and 68°F). The chestnut tree needs heat to ripen, which is why it often grows with the vine. However, it requires a cool soil from September. A minimum of 0.2 inch of rain is required over the year. Irrigation is sometimes practiced in July to favor the formation of the following year’s flowers.

How often do chestnut trees get coppiced?

Chestnut trees are coppiced in some regions such as Italy. The tree reacts well to the cutting of all the stems which takes place in winter every 7 to 15 years depending on the size of the offshoots you want.

Where can I find chestnut trees?

Huge planted chestnut trees can be found in Sherwood, Oregon, as the Mediterranean climate of the West Coast discourages the fungus, which relies on hot, humid summer weather. American chestnut also thrives as far north as Revelstoke, British Columbia.

When do chestnuts grow?

The nuts develop through late summer, with the burrs opening and falling to the ground near the first fall frost.

Why are some chestnut trees alive?

Despite the chestnut blight, some American chestnut trees have survived due to having a small natural resistance to the chestnut blight. Prior to chestnut blight occurring, an epidemic of ink disease struck American chestnuts in the early 19th century.

How big are Castanea pumila leaves?

A natural hybrid of Castanea dentata and Castanea pumila has been named Castanea × neglecta. The leaves, which are 14–20 cm (5.5–8 in) long and 7–10 cm (3–4 in) broad, also tend to average slightly shorter and broader than those of the sweet chestnut.

How many chestnut trees were destroyed in the first half of the 20th century?

It is estimated that between 3 and 4 billion American chestnut trees were destroyed in the first half of the 20th century by blight after its initial discovery in 1904. Very few mature specimens of the tree exist within its historical range, although many small shoots of the former live trees remain.

What disease did chestnut trees get?

However, the species was devastated by chestnut blight, a fungal disease that came from chestnut trees introduced from East Asia.

Why are chestnut trees important?

The American chestnut was a very important tree for wildlife, providing much of the fall mast for species such as white-tailed deer and wild turkey and, formerly, the passenger pigeon. Black bears were also known to eat the nuts to fatten up for the winter. The American chestnut also contains more nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium in its leaves than other trees that share its habitat, so they return more nutrients to the soil which helps with the growth of other plants, animals, and microorganisms.

What zone do chestnut trees grow in?

In the United States, chestnuts are suitable for growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture planting zones 4 through 9.

When do chestnuts ripen?

Chestnuts don’t ripen at the same time and chestnut harvest time can span as much as five weeks, although the nuts generally ripen in a 10- to 30-day span of time in late August and September. Allow the nuts to fall from the tree naturally.

How to release chestnuts after burs?

When the burs have split, roll the nuts gently but firmly under your shoes, using just enough pressure to release the chestnuts. Avoid jumping or stomping, which will crush the nuts.