What are the Benefits of Chestnut? Calories and Nutritional Value, Varieties

by Abbas Jahangir · November 23, 2021

Chestnut is a beech tree. Tall and imposing trees bear fruit in a thorny capsule. When the shell is broken, the nuts that come out of it are consumed raw or cooked. The bark and leaves can also be boiled to make tea and be consumed. Chestnut, which is frequently used in Turkish cuisine, is used to add flavor to both sweets and savory dishes. Nuts, which are a source of healing with their benefits, are among the indispensables of the alternative medicine tradition with many recipes both in Turkey and in the world.

Not all types of chestnuts are suitable for eating. Consumption of chestnut type known as horse chestnut causes poisoning. Dark chestnut honey, which has a sharp chestnut flavor, is also consumed especially for breakfast. Honey, which is more beneficial than flower honey, has an intense and sharp taste, is also used in desserts.

What are the Benefits of Chestnut?

Chestnut, which has high fiber content, does not increase blood sugar while keeping it full.
It is an energy source with a complex carbohydrate content.
The fruit, which is perfect for iron anemia, should be consumed frequently by those with iron deficiency.
It supports bone metabolism with its magnesium and phosphorus content.
Chestnut, known for its calming effect, is a source of healing for stress as well as its vitamin-filled content.
Eating chestnuts is beneficial for teeth, bones, and blood circulation. Vitamin C in its content is a source of health for the whole body.
Chestnut is a source of potassium.
It is rich in folic acid and increases the number of red blood cells in the blood. It is beneficial for the liver and stomach, digestive regulator.
Does chestnut cause diarrhea? While the question is common, the answer is the opposite. Chestnut is a remedy for diarrhea in cases where it is eaten less. In case of excessive diarrhea and dehydration, a doctor should be consulted.
It is among the recommended foods for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and the elimination of forgetfulness.
It strengthens immunity. Rich vitamin content beautifies the skin. It delays the aging of cells and makes the body younger.
Chestnut honey is especially good for cough problems.

Beware of Excess Consumption! Here Are the Harms of Chestnut

High blood pressure and sugar increase draw attention among the damages of chestnut which can cause diarrhea in excessive consumption. Those who use blood thinners should not consume chestnuts without consulting their doctor. Chestnut oil should not be used without the advice of a doctor due to its density.

It is recommended that patients who have serious illnesses and need diet follow-up get approval from their doctors before consuming chestnuts. Diabetic patients are advised to be careful before eating sweets such as chestnut candy and chestnut honey. Due to the sharp taste and high nutritional value of chestnut honey, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician before feeding it to children. The consumption of horse chestnut, which is wild-type chestnut, is definitely not recommended; Horse chestnut is poisonous and should never be eaten.

Chestnut Nutritional Value and Calories

Chestnut is a food rich in carbohydrates and low in fat and protein. The fruit, which contains starch, fiber, protein, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium, contains vitamins B1, B2, and C. 100 grams of food, which has an average of 160 calories, contains 34 grams of carbohydrates, 3.2 grams of protein, 1.8 grams of fat, 8-10 grams of fiber.

Chestnut is not considered suitable for standard diet lists due to its caloric value. Due to its carbohydrate content, chestnuts, which are not recommended to be consumed with other carbohydrate sources such as rice, potatoes, and carrots, can accompany meat dishes. It is recommended not to eat the nut, which is frequently used in pastries, with dough, which is a source of carbohydrates in terms of nutritional values. With its energy source feature, the food that can be consumed before activities that require intense conditioning can also be consumed as a snack.

Refreshing Gardens as Much as Kitchens, Where Are Chestnuts Grown?

The chestnut tree can grow in temperate and hot climate conditions. The intense moisture-loving tree is grown in Marmara, Aegean, and Eastern Black Sea regions in Turkey. Chestnut, which does not like heavy soil and calcareous areas, can therefore live in areas with permeable and loose soil. The province of Turkey which is number one in chestnut cultivation is known as Aydın.

The chestnut, which is shown as a source of livelihood, is suitable for the Anatolian climate, making it possible to be seen frequently and grown in almost every region. The trees, which should be grown at an altitude of 400 meters, cover large areas in the Eastern Black Sea Region, which receives heavy rainfall. Trees with strong roots must be planted at wide intervals, while trees can survive by clinging to even rocky soils. Chestnuts are grown in the world, especially in China, Southern Europe, East, and Southwest Asia.

How to Grow Chestnuts, which are easy to care for?

The chestnut tree is planted as a seedling. Areas with previously deep plowing are ideal. It is recommended to have an average of 10 meters of space between two trees on the land. Digging a 50 x 50 cm pit in the soil is sufficient for the seedling. After planting the seedling, it is watered 3 times every 3 months. Afterward, natural rainwater will be sufficient for the tree to grow thicker, and there will be no need for irrigation. Harvest is usually done in mid-September.

In order to decide how to collect chestnuts at harvest time, it is checked whether the color of the fruit is light or not. The thorny fruits collected from the tree are peeled to reach the thin nut. Chestnuts take years to grow. Breeding that requires patience attracts attention with its low cost. Chestnut trees, which occupy large areas, are also suitable garden trees to create shade with their wide trunks after they reach adulthood.

Delicious Chestnut Varieties

Marrone is known as the highest quality and large-fruited chestnut variety.
Chataigne is a low-quality small-fruited chestnut, it is possible for the seed coat to penetrate the fruit.
The chestnut, called Hacıömer, gives the fruitful and broad types of fruit. Medium-sized chestnuts can be used fresh and in the dough.
While Mahmutmolla is a vertically growing chestnut species, it is known for being harvested at the end of September. It can be easily peeled fresh.
Yellowing is another vertically growing chestnut, medium-large, and large chestnuts are distinguished by their thin brown bark.
Osmanoğlu and Hacıibiş are the last chestnut species grown in our country. Osmanoğlu is a chestnut with a large oval shape and is used in the production of chestnut candy. Haciibis is broad, its shell is thick and very small.
Different types of chestnuts are found in many parts of the world.
in Italy pesio, chiusa, val susa, luserna, castel del rio;
in France, sardonne, montagne, bouche de bétizac, marsol, comballe, bournette, maraval, maridonne, marigoule;
in Spain famosa, amarelante, longal, garrida, inxerta, loura;
In Japan, Tsukuba, ginyose, Ishizuki, tanzawadır type chestnuts are grown.

A Traditional Taste with a Palate-Cracking Flavor: Candied Chestnut

Where is chestnut famous? some might think.

Candy chestnut, also called chestnut dessert, is especially famous in Bursa. Made from the chestnut trees of Uludağ, candies are made from chestnuts boiled in sherbet. After the chestnut is boiled, it becomes sherbet and ready to eat. Today, candy, which is also available in chocolate-covered varieties, is often taken as a gift on special occasions, holidays, and home visits.

Croquant, halvah, walnut chestnut candies also form different varieties. Single and triple packages for daily consumption are also available in markets almost all over Turkey. In addition to candies that meet with consumers through industrial production, chestnut jam also finds its place on the shelves. The calorie value of chestnut sugar is calculated as 204 kcal per 100 grams.

Chestnut Price with Different Varieties Suitable for Every Pocket

The price of chestnuts varies according to the season, the type of chestnut, and whether it is sold raw or cooked. Chestnuts can also be cooked by street vendors and chestnuts are sold by the gram. The kilo price of chestnuts, which can also be found in the market, is determined according to the annual productivity.

Chestnut sugar price is higher than raw chestnut. Chestnut sugar prices may vary according to brands and package weights. Candy chestnuts, which are broken and shredded during production, also find buyers in different packages at more affordable prices than other candies. It is possible that chestnut sweets flavored with croquet, chocolate, pistachio, and walnuts are more expensive than plain ones.

4 Different Chestnut Recipes That Will Create Habits

1) Where Are Those Old Winters! To Cook Chestnuts in a Teflon Pot:

The chestnut shell is opened to reach the nut inside. Drawing chestnuts is a tradition, especially at Christmas. It is prepared by cooking chestnuts, whose shells are split, on the stove or in a pan. With chestnuts in a Teflon pot, you can taste chestnuts in stove flavor by taking advantage of today’s opportunities.

2) Odorless and Clean: To Cook Chestnuts in an Oven Bag:

In another recipe, the smell of burnt crust can be prevented by cooking chestnuts in an oven bag, and the chestnuts that do not lose their water become ready to eat with all their flavor. The chestnuts, which are washed and thrown into the oven bag, are ready to take their place on the table effortlessly within minutes.

3) For the Candy Chestnut Recipe that you can never get enough of:

Those who want to consume chestnuts for dessert can make a chestnut cake, chestnut cake, and chestnut candy. Boiled chestnuts can be included in many desserts. It is especially recommended to use a few drops of lemon juice so that the chestnut syrup does not become sugary.

4) We Guarantee the Flavor. Those Who Try Will Not Regret: For Chestnut Rice:

Especially the chestnut rice and chestnut puree accompanying meat dishes can be counted among the traditional Turkish dishes. The nut, which suits both salty and sweet dishes, adds not only taste but also aesthetics to the pilaf. It should be underlined that black pepper also goes well with pilaf.