Roasted chestnut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Roasted chestnut

Alternative names	Castanhas assadas, chǎolìzi, gunbam
Place of origin	Various
Main ingredients	Chestnuts
Similar dishes	Roasted sweet potato

Roasted chestnuts are a yummy and warm street food that many people enjoy. You can find them especially during autumn and winter. They are popular in places like East Asia, Europe, and even New York City.

These tasty treats are made from different kinds of chestnuts. Some come from Asian chestnut trees, and others from European sweet chestnut trees. No matter where they come from, they are a delicious snack!

Roasted Chestnuts Around the World

Roasted chestnuts are a favorite snack in many countries. Each place often has its own special way of preparing and enjoying them. Let's explore where these warm treats are most loved.

How Are Roasted Chestnuts Enjoyed in Asia?

In Asia, roasted chestnuts are a common sight, especially when the weather gets cooler. They are often sold by street vendors.

China's Sweet Stir-Fried Chestnuts

In China, roasted chestnuts are called chǎolìzi. This means "stir-fried chestnut." They are a very popular autumn street food. Sometimes, they are even called tángchǎolìzi. This name means "sugar stir-fried chestnut." This is because they are often roasted with sand and a sweet syrup. This gives them a lovely sweet flavor.

Korea's Warm Gunbam Snack

Gunbam is the name for roasted chestnuts in Korea. It is a popular street food in both North and South Korea. You can buy gunbam from late autumn through winter. Vendors often wear a special hat called an ushanka. This hat is sometimes called a "roasted chestnut vendor hat."

There is even a famous folk song about them! It's called Gunbam taryeong, which means "ballad of roasted chestnuts." A person named Jeon Su-rin wrote it in 1932. This song is still sung today and is taught in many schools in South Korea.

Roasted Chestnuts in Europe and New York City

Roasted chestnuts are also a beloved tradition in many parts of Europe and in a big city in the United States.

Portugal and Spain's Castanhas Assadas

In Portugal, roasted chestnuts are a popular street food. They are called castanhas assadas in Portuguese. You can usually find them around November. This is when a special day called Dia de São Martinho is celebrated. On this day, people traditionally eat newly harvested chestnuts around a bonfire.

In some cities in Spain, you can find street stalls selling roasted chestnuts in winter. They use portable grills to cook them. The chestnuts are often sold in paper cones, sometimes made from old newspaper. The tradition of the Magosto, which involves roasting chestnuts, is very old in the Iberian Peninsula.

Austria's Maronistand Stalls

In Austria, you might see a Maronistand. This is a small booth where a street vendor sells roasted Maroni. Maroni is what they call edible chestnuts in local German. These stalls also offer hot potato snacks. They appear during the colder months. You can often find them at places like Viennese Christmas markets.

New York City's Seasonal Treat

Roasted chestnuts are also sold as street food in New York City. You will mostly find them in Manhattan. They have been sold there for over a hundred years! However, today, most people who buy them are tourists, not people who live there.

They are sold from late September or early October until early spring. A small bag usually costs around $3 or $4. Vendors say they sell the most chestnuts to tourists during the Christmas holidays.

Gallery

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  castañas asadas in Galicia, Spain

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  caau²leot⁶zi² in Hong Kong, China

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  gunbam in Korea

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  castagnata in Italy

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  castanhas assadas in Portugal

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  roasted chestnut vendor in China

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  roasted chestnut vendor in Portugal

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  roasted chestnut vendor in Turkey

See also

In Spanish: Castañas asadas para niños