The chestnut season begins in autumn, and both children and gourmets are happy about it. Some varieties of chestnuts are safe to eat and delicious, while others are poisonous to humans, but perfect for making crafts and handmade products. We explain the differences to you.

Sweet chestnuts and horse chestnuts, which varieties are edible?

In Spain, sweet chestnuts grow wild. On the other hand, the horse chestnut grows wild in forested areas of Greece, Bulgaria and Albania and other northern countries. However, in our country it is used as an ornamental tree in gardens and parks thanks to its majestic size and beauty.

The two chestnut trees belong to completely different tree families. The sweet chestnut belongs to the Fagaceae family and the horse chestnut, which is poisonous to humans, to the Sapindaceae family.

The delicious fruits of the sweet chestnut are not only edible, but in previous centuries, and Thanks to their high starch content, they were staple food for many rural populations. Nowadays chestnuts are a coveted autumn and winter specialty.

Differences between sweet chestnuts and horse chestnuts

Fortunately, sweet chestnuts and horse chestnuts They can be distinguished relatively easily, you just have to pay a little attention. Ways to distinguish them:

• Through the leaves of the trees: all children know the large leaves of the horse chestnut; They are made up of five smaller individual leaves and resemble beech leaves. Sweet chestnut leaves, on the other hand, have small sharp points on the edge.
• For the pericarp: The capsule fruits of the horse chestnut have a hard, prickly pericarp that is a striking yellowish-green color. The shell of sweet chestnuts, on the other hand, is made up of many soft spines.
• About the fruits: The capsule fruits of the horse chestnut are spherical to pear-shaped. The shape of sweet chestnuts is rather flat and pointed.

When and how to eat chestnuts

The sweet chestnut flowers in June and July, and the fruit does not fall from the tree until late September at the earliest. There can be up to three chestnuts inside a prickly shell.

Sweet chestnuts can be found in many deciduous forests. So it’s worth keeping your eyes open while out for a walk.

Of course, also You can buy chestnuts, for example, at weekly markets, in supermarkets or roasted at chestnut stalls, or candied in the form of marron glacé in confectioneries.

Chestnuts are not only tasty, but also healthy, They contain many calories, but also high-quality protein, are gluten-free and are less fat than nuts. They also contain valuable minerals and vitamins such as potassium, vitamin C and B vitamins.

Raw, cooked or baked, Chestnuts can be prepared and eaten in many ways. In any case, you must first remove the outer shell and the inner skin, which is quite difficult to remove.

If you plan to roast or bake them, You must mark a cross on them with a knife so they don’t explode. When they are roasted just right, they are easier to peel.

Are horse chestnuts edible?

Horse chestnuts bloom earlier, from April to May. Its fruits ripen in September and October. Wild boars and deer, which like to eat chestnuts, are especially happy with them.

In countries like Germany, Foresters and game reserves often have collecting containers where you can take chestnuts that you have collected.

Children can play and make crafts with horse chestnuts, but they should never eat them. Because Its consumption is poisonous to humans.

horse chestnuts They are also not edible for horses and dogs. In the worst case, round fruits can cause serious poisoning due to the aesculin they contain.

Horse chestnuts are not eaten but excellent natural medicines are made from the seeds, bark and leaves to be applied externally with circulatory properties.