Zhen'an Large Chestnuts

Zhen'an Large Chestnuts

Zhen'an Large Chestnuts is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Zhen'an large chestnuts have earned acclaim for their large size, sweet and crisp texture, and high starch content. As early as the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, merchants in ancient Chinese cities such as Beijing, Chang’an (now Xi'an), Taiyuan, and Luoyang were already branding their product as “Zhen'an Candied Large Chestnuts.”

　　Zhen'an chestnut trees are native species belonging to the Fagaceae family, which are naturally grown deciduous trees. They are distributed across all counties in Shangluo. According to a 1960 investigation by the Dried Fruit Research Office of the Central Forestry Ministry, the ancestral home of the chestnut tree was identified as Liziwan (currently under Zhashui jurisdiction) in the mountainous Ziqiaogou and Xiaomuling ranges of Huilong Township, Zhen'an County, and was recognized as an excellent variety. In 1970, Zhen'an County's large chestnuts were included in the textbook "Chinese Fruit Tree Cultivation." In 1978, the Shaanxi Fruit Tree Research Institute listed Zhen'an large chestnuts in the "Shaanxi Fruit Tree Records." Zhen'an large chestnut trees are grafted from local wild chestnut trees. The process involves: each spring, fruit farmers cut branches 150 to 200 cm long from chestnut trees and graft them onto 30 to 50 cm thick wild chestnut tree trunks with their tops cut evenly. The graft joints are sealed tightly with sticky mud. Once the grafted branches sprout and survive, they grow into large chestnut trees. The growth rate of chestnut trees is directly related to the care of young forests. Generally, they begin to bear fruit in 3 to 4 years, have full fruit clusters on the branches by 7 to 8 years, and enter their peak fruiting period between 10 to 15 years. They bloom in May, fruit after flowering, and ripen between August and September. The fruit is enclosed in spiky green husks, which burst open upon maturity to reveal the large chestnuts inside. Each husk contains 2 to 3 fruits. The chestnuts are flat-round, brownish in color, with fine hairs at the shell opening and a membrane attached where the fruit touches the shell. The flesh is milky yellow. Each chestnut weighs approximately 35 to 45 grams on average.

　　Zhen'an large chestnuts are rich in nutrition and have a sweet, crisp taste. Tests show they contain 72.38% starch and 4.7% sugar, with about 14 grams of sugar per 100 grams—equivalent to the sugar content of the same amount of flour and double that of sweet potatoes. Although the protein content in chestnuts is only half that of the same amount of flour, they far exceed rice or flour in terms of vitamin C, carotene, and riboflavin, and match rice and flour in calcium and phosphorus content. Yet, chestnuts are delicious and suitable for all ages, making them a well-known woody grain. Additionally, raw chestnuts also serve as an effective remedy. For those suffering from kidney deficiency or weak lower back and legs, eating 3 to 5 raw chestnuts daily and chewing them slowly can lead to improved health over time. For injuries such as bruises, bone or muscle swelling, or splinters, mashing fresh chestnuts into a paste and applying it to the affected area can relieve pain, stop bleeding, and help draw out pus.