Sweet Chestnuts! Yum!

Pip26

Think this is great thread - thanks Queenrider. Will try to a'hunting this weekend!

CHIMPER wrote: »

How can you tell them apart from conkers???..they look almost identical, i read if you eat conkers by mistake they can make you really ill.

Any info on where to find them and how to tell them apart from conkers would be greatly appreciated.
)

CONKERS FROM HORSE CHESTNUT TREE (ROUND, HARD AND ONLY ONE INSIDE) - DON'T EAT







SWEET CHESTNUT - PRICKLY MANY NEEDLED OUTSIDE.
'NUTS' INSIDE CASE FLATTER ON SIDE/S (AND NOT NORMALLY 'ROUND'), POINTED AT END AND SOFTER WITH MORE BRITTLE/SEPARATE CASES/SHELLS [I.E. NOT SKINS AS PART OF WHOLE THING LIKE CONKERS), CLUSTER OF 4 OR SO (WITH FLATTER SIDES WHERE LAY TOGETHER RATHER THAN ONE BIG ROUND CONKER - SEE PIC.) - EDIBLE.

If it looks round or anything like a conker - don't eat it!

Enterprise_1701C

Nuts are not always flat on one side! As previous poster says, if there is a "tag" on the bottom then they are normally chestnuts, but if in doubt do not eat.

Snakeeyes21

damn :mad: thats why i always used to lose at playing conkers. i was using sweet chestnuts :rotfl::rotfl:

atro1

And I am not telling anyone where our Chestnut trees are!!:p:rotfl::rotfl:

Enterprise_1701C

atro1 wrote: »

And I am not telling anyone where our Chestnut trees are!!:p:rotfl::rotfl:

I know the feeling - I NEVER tell anyone about my favourite one!

caramacgirl

My Mum used to roast them in the morning and we would put them in our pockets to warm our hands on the way to school, then snack on them at morning playtime.:D

frizz393

omg
there are loads of these trees on cycle trail i use
around the woods.

i always thought they were under-grown conkers.:p

i'm off out collecting today now i know!!!:j

bubbLez

There's loads in Greenwich Park - London but when I picked some for my mum, she complained that they are small and it would take forever to peel the skin off even after boiling it...:rolleyes:

Muffin99

Ohh thanks for this. This year my family and I have enjoyed a few new things such as elderberry and apple pie (this was so delicious it has overtaken blackberries in our household!) hawthorn syrup and I have some sloes in a bottle of Gin to decant and give as gifts next Christmas.

I'd love to try some sweet chestnuts.

It is nice to find gluts so as not to over harvest so we shall have to keep our eyes open. Thanks OP!

CHIMPER_2

Pip26, your a star!!!!! :j:j:j Thanks so much for this info, i have trailed through the internet for ages but could still not find a clear difference.
Does anywhere know where to find them in Bedford???????