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

in GEMS2 years ago (edited)

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Above: Me by a chestnut tree, Autumn 2021

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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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Above: me hugging a chestnut tree

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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

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Oh my!!! Those chestnuts bring me so many memories from my childhood!
My grandparents had a huuuge tree and it was such a beautiful moment in which my cousins and I would try to get the chestnuts from the spiky thing that fell from it! I hadn't thought of that in a very long time, but now as I'm writing this I've got a smile on my face.

Thank you so much for sharing this, it has been beautiful, really beautiful!

I bet it was a magnificent tree. And for sure there are not tastier chestnuts than those yiu collect yourself. Yes the spiky peel is the pericarpus of the fruit the chestnuts are the seeds. I am really honoured it triggered fond memories.

My grandmother used to make delicious chestnuts pudding. We should try to do one one day :D
I didn't know they were used as a coin! Interesting. They couldn't even imagine crypto coins those days :)

Hmmm I have cravings now but alas! They are all gone. We should totally keep some chestnuts in our pockets for trade lol. I want to do a chestnut token now

wow, its like in a movie- awesome scenes. How long do you need to get ready with this makeup and clothes?

In the recent ones, except last two, not much because they are my actual hiking garments. I always go to the woods with confortable but fantasy vibe wear. Hiking boots and a warm coat. I love the woods and I enjoy taking pictures, but also to walk and finish our trails, so it has to be quick and confortable, we stopped here because the treasure was found haha. Thanks

What kind of hiking boots do you wear?

Just waterproof practical shoes, beautiful shoes are not ready for adventure lol 🤣 if needed be for a photo I go barefoot but to hike, yes no fancy pretty shoes ;)
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Woooo muddy lol , this was an adventure to clean up

Today I went to film to the snow and my feet got soaked wet so time for some new boots lol

I highly recommend you Salomon brand. They make shoes especially for hiking and trekking, I have a pair and I am very happy with them. They are expensive and they are worth the money, if you think that you will be in the forest often then this might be a good option.
If you will be in the mud often then just a plain old rubber pair of boots will keep you dry

https://www.salomon.com/en-gb

Looks like @weedcash lol🚺🏛💰🔮♀️🧝‍♀️🧚‍♀️😇🦋

Love the colours and tones in the images here, that final one is just wonderful!

Thank you,I love autumn colors and I still cannot let the season go, it's my favorite.

Where we are in Southeast Asia there are no chestnut trees. I can only see it through other people's sharing. And you added to its beauty in my eyes as well as the wonderful autumn there

You have a different variant in Asia, I know it's different, thought they're also very beautiful trees. :) I'm glad to share, I grew up in the Canary Islands and there is no autumn there, but now where I live in the North of Spain is just glorious though now fading into winter

That's right, that's the interesting thing when each place will have its own beauty. And I feel it from you, I also hope to share the beauty in me for others to feel

You look like a forest fairy! I never tried chestnuts , I know...this must be quite something.

I did not know that you can use them to make flour and then bread, cool information!

Your pictures in the forest are always so lovely!

I make fantasy music and love folklore so I love fairies, thanks. Yes, and pasta too. Oh you totally must try roasted chestnuts, street vendors are typical of xmas and winter, if you see ever see one it is worth the try 🌰☺️

I will try!

I have not eaten chestnuts it quite sometime. Now I find myself craving them. Amazing post and very informative. The photos are amazing to, really like the creativity!

Several people have mentioned that they now have cravings for chestnuts, lol, 😂 honestly it makes me happy. Here today is very cold and about to snow, I wouldn't mind a bunch of roasted chestnuts, hot and right out of the oven or pan to put in my pockets 🌰 Thanks for the compliment by the way

I also now really want to eat chestnuts which I have before but not this year yet!
Tomorrow I may go on a hunt for them. Beautiful photos as always from you!

We had planned to go out to the woods but I woke up to the first snowfall, may you have bountiful harvest 🌰🌰🌰 and thanks for the compliment 😊

Omg lets make the hive fantasy LARP network for you know who

We can pay for all the props with upvotes and buy out entire etsy stores and run them on hive and have discord fantasy rpg MUDD dungeons with @kurtybot lol and they all compete and have talent shows and earths next top fantasy model .... powerful larp nft hivepower appreciation

Everyone creating worlds that upvote and downvote each other with discords with actual parties and @ddate and well buy up entire forests with nft sales


The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the person sharing the post on Twitter as long as they are registered with @poshtoken. Sign up at https://hiveposh.com.

Simply spectacular the tones your photos, its lighting and its history is great. Congratulations!

Beautiful post as always and so much about chestnuts that I didn't know.

I know you are not supposed to eat too many LOL but it's likely my favourite autumn winter treat

Lol christmas songs will get us food poisoning lol silly victorians

Hey i still really love this post and your fantasy LARP and in my mind this is the real "meta"verse the krystalverse... orion sphere... lets find you other local fairy women to larp with and create fantasy fairy box doll houses on wax and have forest modeling shoots to show off custom fairy ear jewlery and nft fantasy clothes

And then invite the male elf larpers to show up in their elven grey alien sports cars and space ship RVs with irl cameras mobile pystrance dj studios and starlink so we can jave alien forest elf duende parties live on discord and release music from elf fairy fantasy music producers on hive lol

Oh and I totally do Christmas specials hahaha but never before December LOL. I like though to turn them more into Yuletide Pagan vibe, though I'm afraid this year I've picked like a super Xmassy one (from the Muppets) I filmed yesterday.

santas workshop larp with fully paid non slave elf girl workers, but instead of toys they sit around yurts making crystal jewelry and art

Nothing can beat a real forest (out of VR though :)) but I'm really curious about creating fantasy worlds. I love designing too and making fantasy music, well actually that's what I do. I am not really a model at all haha (respectable fairy godmother age already) but I'm very geek. In this video you can see some of my drawings as well as some of my music

It's cool, thank you for your beautiful photos

Your photos are great!
I really like your style))

Thank you, here I mostly share music but as I love fantasy and folklore I tend to dress a bit elven

These photos are giving me so much ethereal vibes! Great job!

Curious that you say that because I make ethereal music, that is what I do. In fact I have a song called "Ethereal" You can listen to it here 🎵

omg. your voice!!!! so soothing! so relaxing! it can cure stress!

Many thanks, music is my passion and it does nourish a lot from nature

woah woah woah. Such a coincedence. I just recently posted a blog of a waterfalls in our city and the place gave me ethereal vibes too. you can check it out. I mentioned in my blog that the falls looks like a place where fairies fly around and it seems like you belong there.

Thank you, I will definitely check out, you see when I stop by. I love nature, animals and healing in it. It is my dream to have a cozy minihouse with a studio someday off grid. Thanks for the kind words and sure, will stop by to check your waterfalls post. I love water, my friends even joke about my obsession for river ponds

I'm subscribing to your channel!

Really appreciated!

Wow, this is my first time hearing about the tree. Big thanks for sharing

Very cool. Beatiful photo :)

very cool! 🔥

I haven't eaten chestnuts this fall. In the photographs you look like a beautiful forest fairy ...

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