Why not celebrate chestnut season in Australia with a handful of chestnuts?

Chestnut season in Australia is from mid-March to July, and a 30g serve is about 4 chestnuts. The cooler weather in Australia at this time of year makes it the perfect time to enjoy them, too!

Three facts about chestnuts:

• Chestnuts are quite different from other nuts. Nutritionally, they are closer to whole grains, as they are low in fat, and contain protein, carbohydrates and dietary fibre.
• Chestnuts have a low glycaemic index (GI). A low GI diet can help manage blood glucose and insulin levels and may reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
• Chestnuts are the only nuts that contain vitamin C, with a serve providing around 30% of the recommended dietary intake for an adult.

Chestnuts have a sweet nutty taste, but a texture more like a baked potato.

Where are chestnuts grown?

Australian chestnuts are grown principally in the southern states of Australia, including Orange, Southern Tablelands, Blue Mountains and Batlow (New South Wales); Northern and Central Tasmania; North-east and Central, and East of Melbourne (Victoria); Adelaide Hills (South Australia); South-west (Western Australia).

Around 70% of Australia’s production is located in the North East of Victoria. 

How to prepare chestnuts at home

You can buy fresh chestnuts to roast and cook at home from mid-March to July. At other times of the year you can find peeled frozen or vacuum-packed cooked chestnuts at your local grocery store.

Some of our favourite chestnut recipes