what kinds of chestnuts are edible
Save. There are four different varieties of edible chestnuts: American, European, Chinese and Japanese. The chestnut tree is related to the beech and the oak tree. Chestnuts used to be the main starch staple in Europe until the potato was introduced. Do not confuse edible chestnuts with horse chestnuts or buckeyes, which are both inedible. 2  A Chinese chestnut tree is not the same thing as a water chestnut. 3  A water chestnut is a native Asian aquatic plant with corms on the roots that are harvested and used in many Asian dishes.