Chestnuts are a unique fruit of the Castanea species of deciduous trees. This fruit is most common in Asia though it has also been linked to the traditional Italian cuisine for centuries.

Is a chestnut a nut or a fruit?

They are usually enclosed in a leathery or solid outer layer. In botany terms, nuts are strictly a particular kind of dry fruit that has a single seed, a hard shell, and a protective husk. Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans and walnuts fit the true definition of a nut.

What type of fruit is a chestnut?

Chestnuts are actually a tree fruit but technically all tree nuts are considered fruits- with hard shells and seeds. (Consequently, chestnuts should be avoided for those with a tree nut allergy).