Basic Introduction of LaiXi Large Chestnut
LaiXi Large Chestnut was discovered by forestry experts from the Forestry Bureau of LaiXi City, Shandong Province in Dali Village, Yuanshang Town in 1991. From 1992 to 1998, it was observed through graft cultivation and confirmed that its fruit is large and beautiful with excellent quality and stable high-yielding traits. In October 1998, it was appraised by relevant experts organized by the Shandong Provincial Forestry Department and named LaiXi Large Chestnut.
Nutritional Value
1. The rich unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals in chestnuts can prevent and treat hypertension, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, osteoporosis, and other diseases. They are considered an anti-aging and longevity-promoting nutritious food, often referred to as the “king of dried fruits.” Along with dates and persimmons, they are known as “iron stalk crops” and “tree-grown grains”;
2. Chestnuts contain riboflavin, which is beneficial for chronic oral ulcers in children and adults;
3. Chestnuts have a higher carbohydrate content than other dry fruits and can provide the body with more energy. They help in fat metabolism and have the effects of invigorating qi, strengthening the spleen, and nourishing the stomach and intestines;
4. Chestnuts are rich in vitamin C, which can maintain the health of teeth, bones, blood vessels, and muscles. They can prevent and treat osteoporosis, soreness in the lower back and legs, joint pain, weakness, and other conditions, delaying aging. They are ideal health fruits for the elderly.
Product Characteristics
The branches of LaiXi Large Chestnut are thick, with short internodes, a small and compact crown. The leaves are large and glossy. Male flower clusters are 16 cm long and pale yellow when open. The ratio of various branches produced by the fruiting mother branch is: developmental branches 1%, fruiting branches 64%, male flower branches 19%, and weak branches 16%.
The chestnut fruit is ellipsoid, red-brown with a lustrous surface. There is a small tuft of fluff on the apex, giving it an attractive appearance. The average single fruit weight is 25.2 g, with the largest being 35.2 g, while the corresponding figures for Hongguang chestnuts are 10.4 g and 14.2 g respectively. The rate of first-grade fruit (single fruit weight above 20 g) is 87.6%. The flesh has a fine, glutinous texture and a sweet flavor, with total sugar content at 6.08%, compared to 5.45% for Hongguang chestnuts. The skin is easy to peel and the fruit is relatively resistant to storage.
Preparation Methods
1. Due to the distinct characteristics of chestnuts from the South and North, their methods of consumption also differ: Northern people stir-fry chestnuts with coarse sand and maltose to make candied stir-fried chestnuts, while those in the South use chestnuts in dishes and soups. Chestnuts can be boiled and eaten as a soup to aid recovery after illness or weakness in the limbs; chestnuts can be cooked with rice porridge and sugar for nourishing the kidneys and strengthening tendons and bones; several dried chestnuts can be eaten every morning and evening, or fresh chestnuts can be simmered until soft for elderly people with kidney deficiency; in cases of bruises and swelling due to falls or blows, raw chestnut flesh can be mashed into a paste and applied to the affected area.
2. Method to Remove Chestnut Shell: After washing raw chestnuts, place them in a container and add a little salt. Submerge them in boiling water and cover the container. After five minutes, take out the chestnuts and cut them open, and the shell will easily come off along with the skin. This method saves time and effort in removing the chestnut shells.
Authenticity Identification of LaiXi Large Chestnut
Selecting Chestnuts
You can test the firmness of chestnuts by hand; if the kernels feel solid, the fruit is likely full. If they feel hollow, it indicates the fruit inside is dry or soft. Shake a handful of chestnuts in your hand, and if you hear a rattling sound, it suggests the fruit inside is dry and hard, possibly old chestnuts masquerading as fresh ones. Good chestnuts have light-colored kernels that are firm, finely textured, low in moisture, sweet, and glutinous. On the contrary, hard and tasteless kernels indicate poor quality. Larger chestnuts are not necessarily better. Chinese chestnuts are divided into Southern and Northern varieties. Northern chestnuts are generally smaller, around 70-80 per 500 grams, flat and round, with thin skins that are easy to remove after roasting, and they are usually more uniform in size, making them of better quality.
When selecting, choose larger chestnuts with a dark brown, shiny skin. These are of high quality. In the market, some vendors sell chestnuts of uniform size. It is understood that these chestnuts are mostly stored in cold storage, particularly from the previous year. These chestnuts have been processed by machine peeling and screening and are not new-season chestnuts. They are usually cheaper than the current season's chestnuts, so buyers should be cautious. Freshly harvested chestnuts vary in size and are difficult to peel by hand. Chestnuts peeled by hand will typically have remnants of skin and knife marks on them. Fresh chestnuts have a thin layer of fluff on their outer skin, while old chestnuts have smooth skins. When selecting chestnuts, carefully check for signs of insect damage, as chestnuts are prone to infestation.
Awards and Honors
The breeding achievement of LaiXi Large Chestnut won the First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress awarded by the Shandong Provincial Forestry Department in July 1998; the Third Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress awarded by the Qingdao Municipal Forestry Bureau in August 1998; and the First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress awarded by the LaiXi City Science and Technology Commission in May 1999. Its fruit won a gold medal at the Shandong Fruit Exhibition and Evaluation Meeting in 1997.