Its that old sweet chestnut again (Sweet Chestnut Tree)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Sweet Chestnut Tree
Date:	21/11/07 (237 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good eating

Disadvantages: none

Sweet chestnut.
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Underneath the spreading chestnut tree, there I. . . ohh sorry I got carried away singing that old song it made me think of sweet chestnuts which many people will be roasting and eating this Christmas time .

. This chestnut is the Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa not the horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum...
The sweet chestnut tree is not as common in England as the horse chestnut,
Although the Sweet chestnut has been here for very many years it is not a native of England but it is believed it ids a Spanish native brought to Britain by the Romans. Sometimes sweet chestnuts are called Spanish chestnuts.

I have been to Spain and seen forests of sweet chestnut trees. In England there are sweet chestnut trees in the forests and woods and sometimes found in parks or in the verges by the side of roads.
What is a sweet chestnut tree?
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The sweet chestnut tree is a large tree, 20-30 metres tall, a bit large for a modern garden.
The thick trunk will have barked that has deep grooves spirally running vertically (good for bark rubbings.) The wood is used for furniture.
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. The leaves are long have serrated edges and are very tough. The tree looses its leaves in October November as it is deciduous,
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The sweet chestnut has both male and female flowers in June July time these are both in the catkins which stand upright 10-20 cms long. The female flowers when fertilized will develop in to the nut.
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The nut of the sweet chestnut is edible not like the conker from the horse chestnut. The nut is encased in a prickly spiky green brown coat.
This spiky case is removed to find the edible nut that is encased in a protective shell/skin. It is a shiny brown with a flat side. The edible nut is inside this skin. The nut is a yellowy creamy wrinkles nut it is not edible however till it is cooked.
The nut should be ready to harvest October November time but English grown chestnuts may not be fully mature as they need sun, sun, sun
Chestnuts are often known as Marrons in France and other countries.

Eating chestnuts.
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Chestnuts evoke that romantic image of sitting round the open fire roasting and eating chestnuts autumn and Christmas time.
Taste
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Oh I hate describing tastes a little sweet a not very strong flavour it's only a little nutty pleasant
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Chestnuts are available to buy in shops and markets if you can not find your own in the woods
Chestnuts are a starchy food could be an alternative to potatoes.
You can roast chestnuts in their skins on your open fire. Gas hob or electric plate.
You can buy special chestnut roasters a bit like a frying pan with holes in it see http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steel-Chestnut-Roaster-Woo den-Handle /dp/B000H7AFUQ they have some for sale from about 6 pounds. You could roast chestnuts in your oven at 400 degree f for about 15 -20 minutes... Or just boil them in a pan of water for about 10 minutes
If you are roasting or cooking the nut in the outer brown skin does pierce it first or you will get some messy explosions.


You can eat the cooked nuts as they are or add them too recipes there are several chestnut recipes at http://www.cooks.com/rec/story/71/#cooks_chestnut_ k. Or Delia has a chestnut stuffing recipe at http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/eighteenth-cent ury -chestnut-stuffing,914,RC.html.
Of course you could just buy some chestnut stuffing or a bag of frozen brussel sprouts with added chestnuts for your Christmas or New Year celebration. It is possible to buy canned chestnuts too.

Tesco is selling a variety of chestnut stuffing's from about £1.25 to £2. Their button brussel sprouts and chestnuts cost £1.45 for 454 grams.

Now I can't get that other chestnut Christmas song sung by Nat King Cole in the 19 40's out of my head .

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose

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Summary: A tree producing a sweet nut to eat .