Basic Introduction to Zhenghe Sweet Chestnut
Zhenghe Sweet Chestnut is a specialty of Zhenghe County, Nanping City, Fujian Province. It is a regionally competitive industry in Zhenghe County, with strong adaptability and resistance, as well as high yield, stable production, and longevity. It is an industry that benefits for a hundred years after one planting, and the people of Zhenghe County refer to sweet chestnuts as the “money tree.”
Nutritional Value
According to “Compendium of Materia Medica,” sweet chestnuts have effects such as tonifying the kidneys and qi, treating paralysis of the legs and feet, diarrhea due to internal cold, and promoting blood circulation and resolving stasis.
1. Sweet chestnuts are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, calcium, iron, and other minerals, as well as B vitamins, which can help prevent hypertension, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, and osteoporosis in the elderly.
2. The riboflavin component in sweet chestnuts has a good therapeutic effect on common oral ulcers.
3. Sweet chestnuts contain a large amount of carbohydrates, which can promote the metabolism of fats in the body, provide heat to the body, protect against winter cold entering the stomach, and have the effect of strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach.
4. Sweet chestnuts are rich in vitamin C and are a fine beauty and nourishing food for modern women.
5. The main component of sweet chestnuts is starch, which can improve the body's immunity, but overeating can lead to weight gain.
Historical Folklore
Zhenghe Sweet Chestnut resources are abundant, with excellent varieties and top-quality products. They are very suitable for the unique geographical and climatic conditions of Zhenghe, which feature high mountains and cold water. Over long-term production, hazelnut farmers have developed advanced techniques for cultivating sweet chestnuts, moving onto an intensive management track. The sweet chestnuts produced have high yields and superior quality, with a delicious taste, strong glutinousness, and high nutritional value. They are a high-quality, safe, and pollution-free green food, combining nutrition and health benefits. They are a new type of leisure nut and an excellent variety for integrated development and updating of mountainous areas, with high potential for development and utilization.
Preparation Method
Sugar-fried Sweet Chestnuts
Ingredients
Main Ingredient: 500g Sweet Chestnuts
Secondary Ingredients: Coarse Salt in appropriate quantity, Sugar in appropriate quantity
Steps
1. Wash the sweet chestnuts and then cut them open to a depth of about one centimeter using a small knife. Soak them in water for about 20 minutes.
2. Heat the pan and pour in the coarse salt, followed by the drained sweet chestnuts. Note that the sweet chestnuts should be added when the salt is still cold.
3. Continue stir-frying over medium heat, ensuring that the sweet chestnuts are evenly heated. When the shells start to crack slightly, sprinkle two or three tablespoons of sugar evenly and continue stir-frying. At this point, you will smell the scent of caramelized sugar, and its color will gradually change from white to brown and finally black. During this process, remember to stir quickly, or it will easily burn at the bottom.
4. Continue stir-frying until the coarse salt and sweet chestnuts no longer stick together. Then turn off the heat, cover, and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Awards and Honors for Zhenghe Sweet Chestnuts
In 2001, Zhenghe was awarded the title of “China's Sweet Chestnut Hometown” by the State Forestry Administration. In the same year, the “Dazhen Wang” sweet chestnuts were rated as a “Green Consumption Recommended Product” by the Provincial Consumers' Committee. In 2002, they were recognized by the China Economic Forest Association as “China's Famous and Excellent Fruit Products.”