Chestnuts are eaten raw, roasted, fried or boiled.
The chestnut is the fruit of the tree called chestnut . This tree species, with the scientific name Castanea sativa , can reach a height of about twenty meters.
The chestnut tree belongs to the Fagaceae family group. It has a very thick trunk , lanceolate leaves and whitish flowers.
Chestnuts, in this framework, develop into bags with thorns that are similar to hedgehogs. The fruit or the bag itself and the edible achenes found inside can be called chestnut.
A very important food
Many ancient people gave predominance to chestnuts in their diet. In eastern North America, southwest Asia and southern Europe, these fruits provided a good level of carbohydrates to the diet .
Chestnuts stand out for containing vitamin C, minerals (iron, calcium, zinc and others), fiber and proteins. Its consumption contributes to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, protects the nervous system and improves intestinal transit.
China is currently the world's largest producer of chestnuts. Turkey , Bolivia , Italy , South Korea and Greece also produce thousands of tons per year.
How to consume chestnuts
The chestnuts are removed from the prickly pouch once they are dry. They can be consumed roasted , boiled , fried or even raw .
There are those who eat chestnuts as a snack or appetizer . The fruit is also used in the preparation of many recipes .
Socochones are a dessert made with chestnuts, cinnamon and milk . Chestnut pudding and chestnut pie are other popular foods in different regions.
Chestnuts in his bag.
Candied chestnuts , meanwhile, are made by glazing or candiing the fruit with sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. This sweet is usually called brown glacé due to its French name.
With dried and ground chestnuts, on the other hand, you obtain chestnut flour . Sweet in flavor, it can be used to make pastas and breads .
The work of the chestnut trees
Chestnut sellers are people who sell roasted chestnuts on public roads. This activity would have emerged at the end of the 18th century and is still traditional in different places.
Whether in fixed or mobile positions, chestnut growers usually had a pot known as a castañera pot . Over time, this vessel was replaced by other containers that fulfill the same function.
The chestnuts are roasted on a stove or stove . The chestnut growers, with a tong, move the chestnuts on the rack so that they cook evenly and then serve them in a cone.
The brown color
It is interesting to mention that chestnut and chestnut can be used as adjectives to describe that which exhibits a color similar to that of the chestnut shell . It is a brown or reddish hue.
A brown person, in this frame, has hair of this tone . It can be said that brown hair is lighter than black and darker than blonde.
After black hair, brown is the most common. The level of concentration of the pigment called eumelanin (a type of melanin ) gives it its characteristic feature.