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Latest Articles
Review of Haynes Chicken Manual
A review of this complete step-by-step guide to keeping chickens
livestock
10:21, 12th Mar 2010
Review of Making the Most of It
A review of the book Making the Most of It by Barrington Markham
books
10:16, 12th Mar 2010
Hunting Rabbit
Find out how to hunt for delicious rabbit
hunting
10:16, 12th Mar 2010
Vintage Cider Apples
Find out more growing your own vintage cider apples
fruits
09:57, 4th Mar 2010
Keeping Chickens
Find out more about the practicalities of keeping chickens
livestock
13:01, 23rd Feb 2009
Smallholding for Rent in Ireland
Rent a smallholding in County Clare, Ireland
smallholding
15:58, 16th Feb 2009
Small Holding For Sale in Slovenia
Buy a small holding in Slovenia and read the story of its current owner
smallholding
13:24, 29th Oct 2008
Why Buy a Polytunnel
Learn about Polytunnels and their benefits
building
17:12, 17th Sep 2008
Sweet Chestnuts
Find and eat delicious sweet chestnuts
Sweet Chestnuts
foraging
The Sweet Chestnut tree produces delicious edible nuts which are usually roasted and eaten. When roasted and ground, the nuts can also be turned into sweet chestnut flour, or used in confectionary.
Sweet Chestnut Tree
The sweet chestnut (castanea sativa) tree is a long-lived and fast growing tree brought to the UK from its native Southern Europe and Asia Minor by the Romans. It can reach up to 12 metres within 20 years, and up to a final maximum height of around 30 metres. The leaves are very long at 10-25cm and have an easily identified toothed edge.
In mid-summer catkins grow on the tree with male and female flowers. Each female flower matures into a spiky green fruit containing up to 3 chestnuts.
Harvesting and Eating Sweet Chestnuts
Sweet chestnuts are ready to be harvested in late autumn when they fall from the tree together with the leaves. Pick them up as soon as possible so they do not get damp on the floor (or taken away by grey squirrels).If you want to eat the sweet chestnuts immediately then roast them having first cut a cross in the bottom. The cross makes the nut open up when it is cooking which makes it much easier to peel and eat them.
If you want to keep the nuts until Christmas select only those nuts which have no cracks or holes in them. If you will eventually roast the nuts, hang them in mesh bags (onion bags or similar) so that air circulates around them. If they get damp they will quickly rot, so they must be hung somewhere well-ventilated and dry. If you want to use the chestnuts in recipes - for example, stuffing - then boil them for five minutes before cooling in cold water for a few more minutes. Peel them while still warm (since it is much harder to peel cold chestnuts) and then freeze.
Sweet Chestnut Recipes
Christmas chestnut stuffing Recipe - the perfect partner for turkey.Chestnut cooking tips - advice and links to sweet chestnut recipes.
Sweet chestnut jam - the perfect way to preserve sweet chestnuts.
Article Published: 14:07, 11th Jul 2008
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