Chestnut, also known as chestnut, chestnut, hairy chestnut, and wind chestnut, is a nut plant of the family Chestnut in the family Shellaceae. Chestnut trees are trees, and more than 100 different varieties of chestnut trees have been found. Their bark is dark gray with irregular deep longitudinal cracks. The branches are grayish-brown with longitudinal grooves, with many yellowish-gray rounded skin pores on the surface, and the young branches are covered with grayish-brown hairs.
Chestnut is known as "ginseng fruit" in foreign countries, not only as a snack food, but also as a substitute for grain, and together with dates, it is called "woody food". China is also the world's largest producer of chestnuts, which have been cultivated for more than 3,000 years and produce 1 million tons per year, accounting for one-third of the world's total production. Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hebei, Anhui, Zhejiang, and Guangxi are all well-known chestnut producing areas in China.
Chestnuts commonly found on the market have a smooth appearance, but in fact the shell has been removed. The chestnut is encased in several layers of husks, the outermost layer being a shell with dense spines. A chestnut fruit usually consists of 2 to 3 separate small flattened triangular chestnuts, hemispherical or oblate, with a short apex and a diameter of about 2 to 3 cm, and a yellowish-white appearance, smooth, sometimes with shallow longitudinal grooves. The seeds are covered with a brown film with a hard, inedible dark brown rind with hairs at the tip.
The difference between Northern Chestnut and Southern Chestnut is:
1.Northern chestnut is mainly distributed in the mountainous areas of Yanshan and Taihang Mountains in North China and surrounding areas, including Hebei, Beijing, northern Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi, parts of Gansu and northern Jiangsu. They are characterized by small fruits, with an average weight of about 10 grams per chestnut; The flesh texture is waxy, and the sugar content is as high as about 20%; The pulp is low in starch and high in protein; The peel is darker in color and shiny; It has a strong aroma, the peel is easy to peel, and it is suitable for stir-frying, and it is known as sugar-fried chestnuts.
2.Southern chestnut is mainly distributed in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan and southern Henan. This area has high temperatures and rainfall, and the size of chestnut nuts is larger, with an average weight of about 15 grams per chestnut and a maximum of 25 grams, but the sugar content is low, the starch content is higher, and the pulp is more japonica and is mostly used for cooking. There are many different varieties of chestnut in northern and southern China, and the characteristics and characteristics of the variety groups in the south and north are different. Generally speaking, the quality of the varieties in the south is not as good as that in the north, and the flesh is japonica, suitable for stir-frying, also known as cabbage.
Chestnuts are highly nutritious, and the fruit contains a high sugar content and starch. Literature studies have found that chestnut mainly contains active ingredients such as flavonoids, oligoglycosides, unsaturated fatty acids, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, polysaccharides, etc., and is also rich in protein, fat, various vitamins and trace elements such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.
Chestnut has the following effects:
1.Nourishing and strengthening: Chestnuts are rich in starch, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, which can provide comprehensive nutrition for the human body, especially suitable for autumn and winter.
2.Strengthen the spleen and stomach: chestnuts have a sweet taste and warmth, can enter the spleen, stomach and kidney meridians, moderate consumption of chestnuts can improve the function of the spleen and stomach, increase appetite.
3.Strong muscles and bones: Vitamin C and minerals such as calcium and phosphorus in chestnuts contribute to the health of bones and teeth, and can strengthen muscles and bones.
4.Anti-aging: Chestnuts are rich in unsaturated fatty acids and a variety of vitamins, which have antioxidant effects.
5.Improve immunity: A variety of nutrients in chestnuts can enhance the body's immunity and improve resistance.
There are several ways to eat chestnuts:
1.Stir-fried chestnuts with sugar: Wash the chestnuts, make a cut on the shell, put them in a pot and stir-fry them with sugar until golden brown, the taste is sweet and soft and glutinous, and it is a common street food.
2.Roasted Chicken with Chestnut: Chestnuts are stewed with chicken, and the sweetness of the chestnuts and the deliciousness of the chicken are combined to make it both delicious and nutritious.
3.Chestnut porridge: Shelled chestnuts and rice are boiled together into porridge, which can be eaten for breakfast or dinner, and has the effect of strengthening the spleen and stomach.
4.Chestnut cake: Chestnuts are ground into a puree and mixed with flour, cream, etc. to make a cake, which has a delicate and sweet taste, and is a delicious dessert in autumn.
5.Eat chestnuts raw: Fresh chestnuts can be eaten raw and have a crisp and refreshing taste, but they should be eaten in moderation to avoid indigestion.
About the storage method of chestnuts:
Due to its high moisture and carbohydrate content, chestnuts are prone to water loss and mold, so they are not suitable for long-term storage and have a relatively short shelf life. Chestnuts should be stored in a ventilated and dry, cool and dark place, and the temperature and humidity should be controlled during storage, avoiding exposure to the sun and rain to prevent drying out or mold.
Fresh chestnuts are stored at room temperature for a short period of time, shelled chestnuts can be stored for a month in a cool and ventilated environment, and shelled chestnuts can be stored for a week. Fresh chestnuts with and without shells can be stored for longer periods of time in both refrigerated and frozen conditions. In a ventilated and dry environment, it can be stored for one month in refrigeration and six months in frozen. Drying fresh chestnuts in the sun, peeling them and keeping them sealed can also extend the storage time, with dried chestnuts being stored for up to two months in refrigerated conditions and twelve months in frozen conditions.
Chestnut contains a high moisture content, especially after processing, if bubbles or mildew appear during storage, such as packaging swelling, white hairs or green hairs on the skin or pulp, etc., it may occur mildew or bacterial spoilage, and is not suitable for consumption.