Sweet Chestnuts: Fantasy photography + myths, traditions, properties and facts about this delicious Autumn treat

The smell of roasted chestnuts triggers so many memories and feelings of comfort. This has become a tradition all over the world. For me it binds perfectly that feeling of warmth during Autumn and Winter. Who isn't familiar with the classic 1945 "The Christmas Song" that starts with the line *Chestnuts roasting on an open fire*. I haven not been much outdoors this year (due to health) and most of this pictures were taken this autumn, one BOUNTIFUL DAY that I returned home with this Nature's treasure. They can be easily found in Autumn around the trees. You can collect them easily by treading on slightly on the external spiky peel of the fruits (pericarpus) that will reveal one to three shiny teardrop-shaped brown seeds which are the edible part. It is important to collect them within 3 days after they fall from the tree to prevent mold. They are also very appreciated by wildlife that will eat or store them in their burrows to endure winter.

A magnificent tree

The Chestnut tree has been worshiped as sacred and magic and very linked to Earth and Nature.
Chestnuts trees are deciduous (their leaves fall in Autumn) and native of temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Castanea Sativa or European Chestnut is the species that provides the nutritious and edible nuts (not to confuse with conkers, which is an unrelated species and nuts are not edible but poisonous and can cause vomiting and paralysis, though you can make soap to wash your clothing out of them but that is for another article

The trees propagate very easily even from stumps, and wood is very rich in tannins so it has been very appreciated for structures, buildings and even barrels as it can endure moisture and bad conditions even without treatment. The trees grow and propagate really fast and their lumber is nearly as strong as oak, yet lightweight.

History and Mythology of the Sweet chestnut tree

Above: Me last October, grateful for my Autumn Harvest... did you know they were used as coin in Ancient Rome?

There is paleontologist evidence that Chestnuts appeared over 60 million years ago. Though the consumption of chestnuts became popular in Ancient Greece, archaeological finds prove they were "cultivated" as far back as the Bronze Age as they grow and propagate easily by stumps. Greeks found the trees in the vast forests of old Paflagonia which is often mentioned asthe cradle of Sweet chestnuts trees, but in reality it was where the Greeks started its distribution over the rest of Asia Minor which originated this idea. The sweetness and alleged medicinal properties made it a delicacy for the elite. They received many names until finally being called “kástano” which means "The Nuts of Zeus" . Thus its scientific name nowadays is Castanea Sativa

In Ancient Greek there were festivities during the cold months where they were eaten roasted or boiled.
In Roma it was used as "coin" instead of money during cold winter, as they conserve really well and are very rich in nutrients. The emperor Alexander the Great helped to extend the usage of chestnuts they're a very rooted tradition in Italy where street vendors sell them during the cold months. This tradition was also exported to Italian American, serving chestnuts for Thanksgiving and Christmas (along with wine)
In my country Spain, "La Castañada" or "Magosto" Festival is a Chestnut festival that is celebrated in several parts of the Iberian Peninsula and my native Canary Islands on All Saints Day, where roasted chestnuts are typically served. The origins are celtic pagan celebrations to welcome winter but somehow along the way it became part of the tradition of honoring the dead as a reunion with the souls of the recently departed.

In one of my favorite novels "Jane Eyre" a chestnut tree is shattered when Mr. Rochester proposes to Jane, which is considered as a bad omen. And indeed there was turmoil until they found happiness together.

A delicious treat

Above: My bounty this Autumn :). I'm afraid no one left already

Edible Sweet Chestnuts have very little fat and no gluten. The flavour of their tender meat resembles that of the sweet potatoes. They are though an important source of carbohydrates and vitamins. They're rich in gallic acid and ellagic acid, which are antioxidants. They also have twice as starch as a potato. They can help to reduce cholesterol levels and stabilize blood sugar levels. They are an important source of energy for wildlife in the forest.They also have a high vitamin C content (in raw nuts, partially destroyed when cooked). And careful, eating too many can cause... ahem! flatulence XD though feel free to eat a bunch if you are constipated LOL They can be consumed raw, though they are a bit astringent They have a high watery content and you'll notice they dry up pretty quickly once collected in Autumn, thus they require good storage or they get dry, moldy or full of worms. So be sure when you buy them, they're firm, shiny and have no little holes on it (unless you want them with "suprise"). They can be mostly roasted, boiled (replacing potatoes in your stews) or even dried and milled to flour that can be used to make pasta, polenta or to thicken soups, thus it has also been called the "bread tree" as it would be used for flour during the cold months when cereal does not grow.
Marrons Glacés are candied chestnuts, a typical Christmas French dessert that originated in the XVI century.
Madeira's Archipelago (Portugal) because of their traditional Chestnut Liquor.
Honestly my favourite way to eat them is just roasted out of the oven or a pan. Remember to make a cut on the peel before roasting to prevent the pressure to explode them while heating them up. Or right out of a street vendor... here they sell them in a cone of paper. On a frosty night to hold them while still hot is the most warming feeling ever.

All photographies int he article are mine. Priscilla Hernandez @yidneth Autumn 2021, except from the following ones that are from a previous photoshoot by a chestnut tree.

Above: me hugging a chestnut tree

Above: holding a chestnut tree leaf

So have you eaten chestnuts this fall?

Do you want to share your recipes? Is there any tradition linked to chestnuts where you live? Do they trigger any memory? I remember my grandmother used to roast them for me, it was a tradition along with pumpkin jam and they remind me of cold rainy Autumn days listening to her stories.
So post your own impressions, memories, recipes in the comments. I'll upvote every meaningful comment. :) Feedback is mostly appreciated.

ps. Autumn is my favourite season so I'm sharing some seasonal posts before I let it go, sigh! Check previous for a drawing and mythology about the season.

Priscilla Hernandez singer-songwriter & illustrator. Cantante e ilustradora http://yidneth.com