Castanea sativa
Fruit of the chestnut, it is mainly produced in Europe – only 10% of the chestnut marketed in Brazil is national, and is harvested in the Southeast region, in December. This nut has a somewhat mealy texture, and has to be cooked and peeled for consumption. In Brazil, it is often eaten on its own during Christmas, but it is also used to prepare desserts and candies found year round. The most popular is marron glacé, a recipe from the seventeenth century in which chestnuts are parboiled and then cooked in a vanilla-flavored syrup. In Brazil, another recipe using sweet potato instead of chestnuts is commercially marketed as marrom glacê, an alternative to the traditional preparation.
