Is it possible to eat acorns and what are the benefits of them for humans

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Acorn, oak nut, has a high content of nutrients and nutrients necessary for human he alth. Many people do not consider it a food, although the cuisines of some countries have used acorns for centuries to prepare delicious dishes. Of particular value is the oak nut among the indigenous people of North American countries and among Koreans. Is it possible for a person to eat oak acorns, what benefits they bring, read the article.

General information

Acorn is the fruit of an oak tree. This tree is the personification of strength, longevity and beauty, so it is considered an honor for gardeners to grow such a symbol in their garden. To do this, you just need to plant an acorn. Later, when the seedling grows up, it will bear fruits that will bring great benefits to human he alth and become a favorite delicacy.

Selection of good acorns

Can I eat acorns? The fruits of any oak tree are edible. Depending on thetree varieties, they are divided into varieties. But the best acorns are considered from the Emory oak and from the white tree of this type of Oregon. Such nuts are most often eaten, since they contain less tannins.

For example, acorns growing on black oak have a bitter taste and take a long time to cook. Today, few people consider oak fruits to be edible or doubt whether it is possible to eat raw acorns? The fact is that raw nuts contain tannins in very large quantities, which makes them bitter. Most importantly, if you eat a lot of nuts, you can get toxic poisoning. Therefore, they are not eaten raw.

How to prepare acorns before eating?

Can I eat acorns? Properly cooked nuts do not contain tannic acid, as a result of which they do not cause a toxic reaction, so they can be consumed. Indigenous peoples of the Americas rid acorns of harmful substances with the help of water. They peel the nuts, put them in a bag and lower them into a stream of water. Another way is also valid. Acorns are shelled, poured with water and boiled, changing the liquid, until tannic acid leaves no traces (brown color of water). Then the fruits are dried and fried like regular nuts.

How to properly serve acorns?

After the removal of tannins, the nuts become sweet in taste and acquire a soft texture. Can a person eat acorns? Ready to eat peopleconsider dried or fried acorns. But you can diversify the menu of them and make sweets by sprinkling the fruits with sugar. Can you eat acorns? Back in the 19th century, acorns were used as coffee, as the prices for real grains were very high. The flavor of the oak fruit drink was not appealing, but it was coffee nonetheless.

Can I eat acorns? Nuts crushed into small crumbs are used for baking bread and muffins. They are used to thicken liquid products. In Korea, starch is produced from acorns, which is used to make noodles or jelly.

Oak fruit oil

One of the ways to prepare acorns is to obtain oil, which is abundant in the fruit: a third of the total mass. In the distant past, oil was not used for food. It was used by hunters from North American countries during the hunt. The tart scent attracted animals and also masked people's own scent. Later, soft varieties of acorns from Europe and Africa were used to produce an oil similar in appearance to the product from the fruit of the olive.

Planting an acorn at home

For oak breeding, you need to choose high-quality fruit specimens. To determine suitability, nuts are placed in water. The specimens that float to the surface are thrown away, and those remaining at the bottom are used for landing. Selected nuts are placed in the refrigerator for a period of two months to create winter conditions. Seeds are pre-packed hermetically with the addition of a moisture-containing substance.

After the appearanceroots of acorns are placed in a horizontal position in a box with prepared soil. For two weeks of planting, it is necessary to water abundantly. After the appearance of several leaves, the sprouted plant is planted in a permanent place of growth in the soil of the garden with the following signs:

• Sprouts should be at least 15 cm long.
• The main root is developed.
• The seedling is two weeks old.
• Root system - no signs of disease.

The place in the garden should be lit, sunny. A pipeline should not pass near the site and other crops should not grow, which can limit the freedom of a young tree. A landing site two meters in diameter needs to be cleared and dug up. It is better to plant two plants side by side and protect them from mechanical damage by animals or people. Until the plant takes root, it needs to be watered periodically. When the first fruits appear on the tree, see for yourself whether you can eat oak acorns.

Benefits of oak fruit

Acorns, like all nuts, are solid foods. They have less fat, but more complex carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins. Oak fruits have been used by folk healers since ancient times for the treatment and prevention of many diseases.

• According to scientists, acorns help regulate sugar levels in the human body.
• Treat gastrointestinal disorders. Can you eat acorns? They are not only eaten as part of cooked or independent dishes, but also treated. Oak fruits are used to make coffee anduse it for three months without a break three times throughout the day.
• Treat bronchi, asthma, heart, genitourinary system. To do this, prepare a drink with the addition of honey, sugar.
• Acorns have antitumor, enveloping and bactericidal action.
• Fruits help with enuresis, increase potency.
• Treat thrombosis and varicose veins.
• When eating acorns, the intellectual abilities of a person increase, the work of the brain is activated, attention is concentrated.

Acorn coffee

To make a drink, the fruits do not have to be soaked. After harvesting from the forest, they are baked in the oven with their skins on until they turn pink. Then the skin is peeled off, and the fruits are finely chopped. One small spoon of the mixture is enough for a glass of water.

Who, besides humans, eats acorns?

Oak fruits are a favorite delicacy of all rodents: squirrels, mice, chipmunks. These animals make large stocks of acorns in autumn, which allows them to have food in winter, despite the fact that there are no nuts and berries in the forest at that time. Can birds eat acorns? Of course, oak fruits are very nutritious, so the birds are quickly saturated with them and do not feel hungry in snowy winters. Acorn nuts are a favorite delicacy for the larger inhabitants of the forest: bears, deer, wild boars.