What season do chestnuts ripen in, and in which month do they hit the market?
With today's technological advances, we can see vendors selling chestnuts in all four seasons, but what season are chestnuts really the food of? In fact, chestnuts ripen between September and October, and generally it is around when children start school that chestnuts ripen.
What season do chestnuts come out in
In early May, as the weather warms up, chestnuts begin to sprout; from late May to early June, chestnuts begin to bloom; between September and October, the chestnuts slowly crack open their mouths, and the chestnuts that have waited a whole year are finally about to ripen.
After the chestnuts ripen, some fall naturally once mature, while others require standing under the chestnut tree and striking the branches with a bamboo pole, and the chestnuts will fall down; sometimes some fall together with the spiky outer husk, and getting pricked by the spines is an everyday occurrence, but looking at the harvested fruit makes it all worthwhile.
When do fresh chestnuts go on the market
It is around October in autumn
The season when the fragrance of chestnuts fills the air. In this chestnut season, the sugar-roasted chestnuts on street corners, the chestnut soup and braised cabbage with chestnuts in restaurants, the chestnut cakes in supermarkets, and so on, all make people's appetites rise at a glance. There is a Chinese folk saying that goes “hawthorns in the eighth month, chestnuts laughing heartily in the tenth month.” Chestnuts are sweet, glutinous and refreshing, rich in nutrients, and are called the “king of a thousand fruits.”
Chestnuts laughing heartily in the tenth month. The chestnut, also known as the large chestnut, Chinese chestnut, or hairy chestnut, is a specialty of our country. Chestnuts can be eaten raw, or made into pastries, dishes, congee, and so on, and the most popular with consumers are the fresh, sweet sugar-roasted chestnuts and chicken braised with chestnuts or pork braised with chestnuts. The chestnut was called mu yan zi in ancient times. From the Neolithic site of Banpo in Xi'an, actual remains of chestnuts have been found, with a history of gathering and eating them dating back more than 6,000 years. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the cultivation of chestnuts was already very widespread.
Points to note when eating chestnuts
Do not eat them together with beef
Chestnuts cannot be eaten together with beef, otherwise it will cause vomiting.
Chestnuts conflict with mutton
Whether steamed, boiled, stir-fried or stewed, the two cannot be eaten together, otherwise it easily causes symptoms such as vomiting, internal heat, and indigestion.
Chestnuts conflict with duck meat
Eating chestnuts and duck meat together easily causes poisoning; chestnuts cannot be mixed with beef, and eating beef and chestnuts together easily causes vomiting and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Not suitable for those with allergies
Those allergic to chestnuts should not eat them, to avoid allergic reactions.
Not suitable for those with spleen deficiency, indigestion, or rheumatism
Chestnuts “are extremely hard to digest when raw and easily cause qi stagnation when cooked”; those with weak spleen and stomach, indigestion, or rheumatism should not eat them.
Do not eat too many at one time
Do not eat too many at one time, otherwise it will cause abdominal bloating. Chestnuts both nourish the body and taste good, but one should not eat too many at once; those with diabetes had best not eat too many, to avoid affecting blood sugar stability.
Do not eat spoiled ones
Fresh chestnuts easily spoil and become moldy; do not eat spoiled or moldy chestnuts, as they will cause poisoning.
Prevent mold
When storing chestnuts, put them in a dry, ventilated place, and take care to prevent mold.
Eat less after meals
You can eat 7 cooked chestnuts at a time, or 10 is also fine, twice a day, and eating this way three times is no problem. And it is best to eat chestnuts as a snack between two meals; by no means eat a large amount after a meal, as this easily makes you gain weight. Chestnuts contain relatively more starch, and eating them after a meal easily takes in too many calories, which is not good for staying in shape.
Chew carefully and swallow slowly
When eating chestnuts, chew them finely until there is no residue left in the mouth and they become a paste, then swallow bit by bit; only then can they have a health-preserving effect.