The name comes from the fact that these nuts are also used in Indonesia and Malaysia to make candles. Whole or chopped roasted candlenuts are available in Indian and Asian markets. The fruit of the cashew tree, originally from South America but widely cultivated in India and other tropical countries since the 16th century. In Europe it is usually eaten dried, roasted and salted as an appetizer and in salads. The fruit of the sweet chestnut tree, which is edible when cooked.
Chestnuts are energy rich and highly nutritious.
The contain a high proportion of starch, together with potassium and vitamins B and C. Fresh chestnuts, available in the winter months, should be heavy, hard and shiny brown. Whole chestnuts can be roasted in their shell, then peeled and eaten as they are. The coconut palm is common in tropical regions all over the world. The nut is covered in a fibrous outer coating on the tree and all parts of the tree are useful, the trunks for timber, the leaves for thatch, the fibrous husk produces coir the starting material for ropes and coconut matting and the nuts are used for food. Unripe nuts contain coconut milk.