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In autumn there are thousands of beechnuts at the foot of the beeches. Botanically they are nuts - so they can also be he althy for humans.
Most people have already forgotten them, many only know them from stories - the beech nuts. The small nuts from the forest are the fruits of the common beech (Fagus sylvatica), which is native to Germany. In autumn they lie en masse on the forest floor, just waiting to be collected. But can you really eat beech nuts? We will clarify this question below and present everything important about the forest fruit.
Beechnuts: properties and ingredients
Whereas in earlier times the red beech covered entire areas, today the area has been greatly reduced. However, the typical Central European plant is still the most common tree in this country with a 15% share in the forests and the amount of beechnuts is correspondingly large. The approximately 1.5 cm large fruits usually fall from the trees in September, but the amount varies from year to year. Especially after hot summers, beech trees produce more small, brown nuts.
Beechnuts are characterized by a high oil content, which is why they were used as food again after the Second World War. In addition to the fat content of almost 40%, the nuts contain many minerals such as iron and zinc.
Are beechnuts poisonous?
In relation to beechnuts, it is often read that the fruits are poisonous. In fact, beechnuts contain several toxins, including the so-called fagin (trimethylamine), which is named after the beech (Fagus). Furthermore, the raw fruits contain oxalic acid, which, like the fagin, can lead to stomach problems and symptoms of poisoning. This can happen in particular through the consumption of large amounts of uncooked beechnuts. It is therefore important to always heat the nuts before eating. You can find more detailed information on this in our article "Are beechnuts poisonous?".
Can you eat beechnuts?
Despite the toxicity of beechnuts, they were not eaten for free in earlier times. If the square nuts of the beech are properly cooked, they can be eaten without hesitation and are suitable for refining all kinds of dishes. You can find out exactly how to prepare the nuts so that you can eat the beechnuts in our article.
Buying beechnuts: An expensive delicacy
If you don't want to collect the angular nuts yourself or if it's not the right season, you can buy beechnuts online, for example. As a rule, however, the buyer has to dig deep into his pocket, since beechnuts are not exactly cheap. Since beech trees are not grown specifically for gathering the brown fruit, it is not surprising that prices are so high.
Toasting beechnuts before eating
Probably the best way to cook the energy-rich beechnuts is to roast them in a pan without oil. On the one hand, the toxins oxalic acid and fagin are broken down by heating, on the other hand, the nutty aroma can develop best through the roasting process. It's best if you just try it out for yourself.
If you are interested in other he althy nuts, check out our top 10 article.