Ghiande - Curiosità sulle proprietà
Ghiande - Curiosità sulle proprietà
Fun facts about the properties of acorns: we know that the woods provide many foods: fruits, mushrooms, berries. And acorns. Yes, because acorns are also eaten and have beneficial effects, so much so that they have earned a place in the list of superfoods, although for the moment only in South Korea. But we are confident and future recognition is expected in other parts of the world.
Acorns are edible, some procedures must be followed to eliminate tannin (the substance that generates the bitter taste) and some toxic substances. All acorns are edible if they undergo these processes, those of white oaks are considered less bitter and with a sweeter flavor. As regards Mediterranean oaks, which develop in climates with dry summers and humid winters, the least bitter are the acorns of holm oaks and downy oaks.
The holm oak is an evergreen oak present in the flat-hilly forests from Liguria to Sicily, along the Tyrrhenian Sea, and from the Carso to Puglia along the Adriatic, missing in the Po Valley area and also in the Alpine regions.
Roverella is common in Italy, from north to south, concentrating mainly in areas close to the Mediterranean with hot summers and cold winters devoid of humidity, hilly or mountainous areas, but without exceeding places with a height of over a thousand meters above sea level.
In addition to the edibility of the acorns themselves, the bark of the oak also plays an important role: it is an excellent anti-inflammatory for those who have skin diseases, itches or wounds that need to heal, thanks to the presence of tannins.
Returning to the beneficial properties of acorns, they are rich in fiber and proteins, carbohydrates, mineral salts, B vitamins, calcium, potassium and sodium. They are an excellent natural bactericide and anti-tumor, act against tooth and gum pain and have antioxidant power.
Being gluten-free, they are great allies for those suffering from celiac disease.
Our experience with acorns
In the woods surrounding our Glamping Pian delle Ginestre there are plenty of Holm Oaks and Cork Oaks and remembering the stories of my grandmother who used acorns to make coffee during the war, I tried my hand at some experiments that led to the production of a very small quantity of flour that we use to make biscuits, sweets and savories. The process is not quick, but the results were satisfactory.
The acorns from the holm oaks are collected (those from the cork trees are too bitter), they are soaked in cold water for at least a week (changing it every day), they are toasted in the oven at a low temperature, peeled and ground. In reality they are also good to eat like this, the flavor is very similar to that of chestnut, with an aftertaste that tastes of coffee and chocolate.
With the coarsely ground powder you can prepare a drink that resembles coffee, if you grind it finer you obtain a flour which (mixed with wheat flour) can be used for sweet and savory biscuits and also to prepare a very rustic bread and fragrant.
In conclusion, the next time you go on a picnic in the woods in autumn and there is a bit of wind that causes some acorns to fall at your feet, it is therefore advisable to take advantage of it by picking them up and taking them home.
Vienici a trovare al Glamping Pian delle Ginestre. Da noi non trovi solo confortevoli tende Glamp dove potrai goderti la tua vacanza in contatto con la natura ma troverai anche Ilaria e Roberto, due persone appassionate nell'accogliere i propri ospiti e che ti faranno vivere esperienze uniche, come ad esempio accompagnandoti nei boschi di Sassetta dove potrai raccogliere le ghiande e poi ti guideranno nella loro preparazione, con deliziose e succulenti ricette. Ti aspettiamo!
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Glamping Pian delle Ginestre
via del Corsoio, 6
Sassetta (LI)
VAT ID: IT02497750469
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