CHESTNUTS (CASTANEA)

Chestnuts, including several species of the genus Castanea (L.), family Fagaceae, have played an important role in the human history of Europe, Asia, and North America for millennia (Smith, 1953). The tendency of the wild trees to bear regularly enabled pre-agricultural peoples to depend on them for food.
Selection and grafting of superior trees began at least 3,000 years ago in Europe and 2,000 years ago in China (Jaynes, 1975; Jiangsu, 1979). In spite of this early use, continuing economic importance, and great promise as a domesticated genus, many details of their biology and appropriate culture remain to be elucidated.

Chestnuts have served as a staple foodstuff in areas of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, China, Korea, and Japan, among others, and as sought-after luxuries wherever else available.
The nuts are often palatable raw, but are usually consumed cooked; often roasted in the shell, boiled, or steamed.
The nutritional resemblance of the nut to cereal grains led to similar uses of chestnut flour, ground from the dried nuts, in breads and pastries.
Italian polenta, a sort of porridge now made with cornmeal, originally was made of chestnuts.
When abundant, the nuts were also used as livestock feed, and specialty pork has been profitably fattened on chestnuts in Europe and America (Smith, 1953).

Genetic Resources of Temperate Fruit and Nut Crops

Philip A. Rutter, G. Miller, Jerry A. Payne

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1991.290.17