By KIM ATIENZA
Winter is beginning to settle in the western hemisphere. The cold season is here.
In our country, it’s the season of amihan, marked by cold winds blowing from neighboring China and Mongolia that allow lower temperature levels.
With cool weather, the feel of Christmas fills the air. You hear your favorite Yuletide song with this line: “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.”
Yes, chestnuts are in season.
In the Philippines, we have our chestnuts roasted Chinese style. Yung gaya ng nabibili natin sa streets ng Hong Kong.
Chestnut shell is hard and reddish brown. Its inside ranges from white to tan.
This edible nut has been used by the Chinese since neolithic times. For many centuries, it was probably the most important and/or the most popular nut used in the preparation of their dishes.
One of many food items in tombs in Hupei were chestnuts.
It’s because chestnut trees grow wild and free in Hupei and many parts of China.
They are also indigenous to other places.
These findings make the chestnut an exceptionally early part of China’s food culture, perhaps one of, if not the earliest nut, used in antiquity.
Besides being used for food by the early Chinese, chestnuts were often offered to emperors as tribute foods.
TRIVIA PA MORE (Various Sources): Traditionally, people place an angel on top of a Christmas tree.
Send your questions on anything and everything to Kuya Kim through my Twitter account @kuyakim_atienza using #AlaminKayKuyaKim.
