PRODUCTS

Chestnut

The fruit of the chestnut ripens in October and November, but the trees do not give them up easily. They are gathered before they fall to the ground by striking the fruits with long poles, and then come the job of removing the thorny armour enclosing them. To do this the chestnuts are buried for a few days, after which the shell is easily removed, revealing the glossy nuts in their full splendour.
Chestnut trees have a long life of up to 500 years and grow to a height of 30 meters, making them one of the most magnificent of Turkey's forest trees. Its dark coloured durable timber has traditionally been used for building houses and furniture such as the solid and capacious trousseau chests in which our grandmothers stored their most treasured belongings and keepsakes. Chestnut wood was also used for boat building. Chestnuts are low in fat comparing with other nuts and are get attention from healthy food industry. Chestnut can be used as an ingredient in various recipes, such as stuffing, vegetable dishes, casseroles and desserts. Dried chestnuts can be grounded into flour as a substitute for wheat flour. Chestnuts contain twice as much starch as potatoes. It is no wonder they are still an important food crop in China, Japan, and southern Europe where they are often ground into a meal for bread making, thus giving rise to the nickname of "bread tree."
 

Storage

Chestnut is a perishable, high-starch, low-fat food more like a potato or apple than a tree nut. You have to handle chestnuts very carefully to avoid cracking or scratching the shell, and you should store them properly to prevent mold. They roast properly and taste fresh if you store them at 32°F (0°C) and at least %90 relative humidity starting within one or two days of harvest. Maintain proper moisture conditions by storing in-shell nuts in a plastic bag or closed plastic container in a refrigerator.  Chestnuts lose moisture quickly at room temperature and humidity, causing the kernels to dry and harden. Dried chestnuts can be stored longer, but they lose both flavor and texture and would not roast properly. To re-hydrate dried chestnuts, soak them in cold water for 3 or 4 hours before use. If stored at room temperature (above 50°F [10.0°C]), chestnuts usually mold within 2 weeks. Chestnut can be stored in-shell for 1 month at 32° to 45°F (0° to 7.2°C) or for a year or more at 0°F (–17.8°C)