Chestnuts are edible: unsurpassed taste, useful properties

Deciduous plants of the genus Kashtan from the beech family Castanea sativa, or simply edible chestnuts are widely distributed in the European territory, where they have been cultivated for several centuries for the sake of tasty and nutritious fruits. Due to their endurance and frost resistance, these trees grow even in northern European countries, for example, in the British Isles. However, the ideal conditions for this plant are still regions with mild climates, where there are no late spring frosts that adversely affect flowering.

Description of edible chestnut

The adult plant is characterized by a wide, slender trunk covered with a gray rippled crust with vertical or spiral furrows. Its height can reach 35 meters, and diameter - two meters. The shape of the leaves is oblong, oval-pointed, with a jagged margin, and their size is 16-28 cm in length and 5-10 cm in width. In our region, as is known, horse chestnut is common , and many do not know how to distinguish edible chestnut from inedible. So, it's on the leaves. The plant with inedible fruits has complex palatal leaves, which are located on a common petiole of 5-7 pieces, whereas its noble relative has large and dense single sheets with a glossy coating. The period of flowering chestnut - the first half of summer (late June - early July). At the ends of the branches appear small white flowers, collected in long (10-20 cm) earrings growing in bundles. It is interesting that in one earring there are flowers of both sexes - the upper part of the earring is occupied by male flowers, and the lower one by female ones. By the autumn of the female flowers, ripe edible chestnut ripen, having a round shape and covered with a barbed protective shell, which protects them from small animals and birds. In October, the ripened fruit leaves its thorny "house".

Growth conditions

Chestnuts eaten perfectly grow on well drained sandy and light fertile soils. They do not tolerate too shaded places and excessively wet, swampy, infertile or calcareous soils. Reproduction of plants is carried out by grafting or seeds, which mature in the middle of autumn. The main enemy of chestnut fruit is the gray squirrel, so plant trees should be there where this animal is not found. It should be remembered that in regions with very low temperatures, the chestnut will not bear fruit.

Chestnuts are edible - a real delicacy

The main wealth of Castanea sativa are delicious starchy nuts. Their nutritional qualities are similar to those of wheat, except for the gluten-binding protein - this component is absent in the fruits. Chestnut flour is used in the preparation of dough products to give them a peculiar flavor and friability. In addition, edible chestnuts play the role of raw materials in brewing, and are also an excellent ingredient for cakes and puddings. They are also used as an independent confectionery product, for example, in France roasted candied chestnut nuts are very popular.