Every now and then I have come across some nuts in the market, tied into plastic bags. In León it’s rare to find them. They have a brittle brown shell and are wet, clearly boiled, and the inside is creamy and dry and tastes vaguely like a chestnut. People sell them as castañas, which actually is the spanish word for chestnut. They are a rare treat to find here – one of a handful of traditional fruits that don’t really have a market and many people are unfamiliar with.
I recently discovered the tree that the nuts come from at a place that I’ve been to frequently. One of the sesame coops that I work with through the Social Business Network founded a local vocational highschool. All the agricultural coop offices – and the school – have gardens with carefully selected ornamental and edible plants: hibiscus flowers, roses, plantains, mangos, avocados, achiote, mint, and almond. I have always admired this one tree in the front of the yard. It has huge, beautiful glossy green leaves with scalloped edges, and a straight tall trunk. I assumed it was an ornamental, until I once saw a spiky green round fruit the size of a small melon.
At first I mistook it for a breadfruit tree, which I have seen on the Caribbean coast. Actually it’s an Artocarpus camansi tree, cousin of the breadfruit known as the breadnut, and produces those hard-to-find nuts. I found that out when the secretary of the cooperative took some of the brown, fallen fruit and dried it to get the seeds out and bring to some friends who liked the tree and wanted to plant some. As we tore open the spiky fruit, I recognized the seeds, and collected some to cook. The woman who lives at the school and cooks had heard of castañas but had never seen them before, and was a bit sceptical but game to try them. We boiled them for a half hour and then cooled them down and they were exactly like the ones in the market – creamy nutty flavor. Not exactly like chestnuts – but I bet they would be good roasted.
February 7, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Hi Rachel, I am traveling to the barrio of Sonrisa de Dios near Nagarote in March to help at Nicaphoto, a small grassroots organization. In addition to tutoring children, Nicaphoto provides a hot, nutritious lunches, as hunger and malnutrition are common issues. Over the last couple of years they have established a garden…
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150834161573479.403370.201821033478&type=3 . Currently the children are growing plantain and yucca but would like to expand to a larger variety. Do you have suggestions for the vegetables and fruits most likely to succeed and importantly, advice for how to obtain high quality organic seeds? With much appreciation, Val Rossi USA
February 10, 2013 at 6:48 pm
Hi Val, NicaPhoto is a great organization, Ronnie is a good friend of mine and I try and get down to see them a few times a month. I bring seeds down from the states from Johnny’s or High Mowing whenever I come. Only Heirloom varieties so the project can save the seed. Just a few packets are enough to try out varieties, the garden isn’t that big. Cherry tomatoes are great and I’ve had good luck with them, as well as zucchini and summer squash. There are other organizitions in Leon and Nagarote and around that are great resources for seeds and ideas as well. Looking forward to meeting you,
Rachel
February 11, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Hi Rachel, Thank you for reply and great information. I am so happy that you know of NicaPhoto and hope that we do have a chance to overlap. Thanks for the lead on the on the seeds. You sound like an amazing person! Best, Val
February 4, 2013 at 7:28 pm
Rachel, I am traveling to Nicaragua to help in the town of La Calle Real. I am going with the group, Worldwide Child Relief Foundation, and will be helping with gardening. We plan to set up an irrigation system and to establish a better variety of vegetables. Many of the projects you share on your blog are what this group is trying to accomplish. Are you still in Nicaragua? Do you have a program that educates people about agriculture in Nicaragua? Could you let me know if you could be a resource for our efforts in March?