Bingzhongluo Chestnuts

Bingzhongluo Chestnuts

　　 Chestnuts are a highly valuable dry fruit, often hailed as the "King of Dry Fruits." Their nutritional and medicinal benefits are widely acknowledged. They contain 70% starch and sugars, 7%–10% protein, 3%–4% plant fat, as well as vitamins, carotene, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium. As early as the Shang Dynasty over 4,000 years ago, pictographs representing chestnuts appeared in China, and during the Han Dynasty, records exist of planting thousands of chestnut trees.

　　 　　Since ancient times, Chinese folk medicine has used chestnuts to treat various ailments, and pharmacopoeias such as the "Qian Jin Fang" contain prescriptions that include chestnuts.

　　 　　Within the Nujiang region, chestnuts are produced in many areas, but those of the highest quality and greatest fame come from the Swiss chestnuts grown in Bingzhongluo, Gongshan County. As the foreign name suggests, this premium variety was introduced in 1925 by French missionaries who brought it from India. Upon arriving in Bingzhongluo, it quickly took root in the fertile soil, yielding abundant crops. The Bingzhongluo Swiss chestnuts are large, plump, and crisp with a rich flavor when eaten raw, while their cooked form is sweet and flaky, making them highly popular among locals and visitors alike. Despite a relatively high yield — with each tree producing around 30 kilograms of dried chestnuts — they are still in high demand during peak sales periods like the Mid-Autumn Festival.