Beech forest is not only a source of high quality timber. These perennial plants produce extremely nutritious and he althy nuts known as chinariki. The product is an excellent ingredient for preparing a wide variety of dishes. There is a chinarik nut in a fried form. The oil squeezed from these fruits has special properties and excellent aroma.
Beech tree: description and photo
Beech is a broad-leaved perennial plant that can reach a height of about 30 meters. The tree can be identified by its characteristic smooth trunk with grayish bark. The foliage here is large and has an oval shape. The edges of the leaves contain rare small teeth.
Beech is a tree widely distributed throughout Europe, as well as in North America and Asia. The life cycle of a plant is over 350 years. There is a beech at an altitude of 400 meters above sea level.
The tree begins to give color and bear fruit from the age of 60 years. The plant produces chinariki nuts, which have a densespiny sheath. They begin to crumble to the ground from September to October. If there are optimal weather conditions, the beech is able to produce about 7-8 kilograms of nuts per season.
What is a chinarik?
Beech fruits are small. Their length does not exceed one and a half centimeters. Chinariki nuts have a trihedral shape. The outer shell is presented in the form of woody plates. Beechnuts grow in clusters, each of which can contain up to four units.
The fruits of the tree are a favorite delicacy of the inhabitants of the forest, in particular wild boars, roe deer, squirrels, deer and birds. As for people, the ancient peoples traditionally used beech nuts for food. And this is not surprising, because the product has an extremely pleasant taste, aroma and high nutritional value.
Beech nuts in cooking
The fruits of the beech tree are edible. It is recommended to use them only in fried form. The raw product contains toxic substances that are destroyed by high temperatures.
Chinarik is widely used in cooking in the manufacture of a coffee surrogate. For this purpose, the nuts are roasted and finely ground. Then the product is brewed with boiling water. Thus, an excellent tonic drink is obtained, the taste of which is vaguely reminiscent of coffee.
Grated chinarik walnut can be used as a base for baking bread. Such raw materials are often added to confectionery products, which allowssweets acquire a spicy flavor. Oil is also obtained from grated nuts, which is in no way inferior to sunflower or olive.
Useful properties
Beech fruits are a valuable source of carbohydrates, proteins and trace elements essential for the human body. Chinariki nuts contain an abundance of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin B. Such substances have a positive effect on the state of the nervous system, provide the body with energy, strengthen the cardiovascular system, and improve the condition of hair and skin.
Beech nuts are rich in organic acids, in particular vanilla, coumaric, citric, ferulic. These substances are distinguished by diuretic and bactericidal action, contribute to the elimination of inflammatory processes. The product contains saponins, which, when ingested, contribute to the rapid breakdown of fatty compounds.
Including plane trees in your daily diet, you can feel more energetic in a short time. At the same time, immunity will be noticeably strengthened, which will allow you to forget about colds.
Contraindications
What harm can beech nuts cause? In addition to useful substances, the product contains a high concentration of oxalic acid. Its excessive concentration in the body can cause weakening of bone tissue, destruction of tooth enamel, and the formation of kidney stones.
Another not the most useful element in the composition of chinarikov is the alkaloid fagin. The chemical element is known asa hallucinogen that is toxic in large amounts. The concentration of the alkaloid in the body leads to bouts of vomiting, headache, and the development of convulsive conditions. Given the above, when using beech nuts, you need to know when to stop.
