From Harvest to Market: How Chestnuts Are Processed Around the World

Chestnuts are not just picked and sold fresh — they go through many steps before reaching supermarket shelves or food factories. In this article, we explain how chestnuts are processed in different countries and what types of chestnut products are becoming popular around the world.

Step-by-Step: The Chestnut Processing Flow

1. Harvesting:
   Chestnuts are picked manually or by machine. Timing is important to avoid mold or cracking.

2. Initial Cleaning:
   Remove leaves, soil, and empty shells. This step is often done by water washing or airflow.

3. Grading and Sorting:
   Chestnuts are sorted by size, weight, appearance, and internal quality.
   → This is where smart sorting machines can greatly improve speed and accuracy.

4. Drying or Curing:
   Chestnuts are dried to reduce moisture and prevent spoilage.

   • Hot air drying

   • Natural curing in well-ventilated rooms

5. Peeling (Shell and Skin Removal):
   There are two types of peeling:

   • Hot peeling (with steam or boiling water)

   • Cold peeling (used more for frozen chestnuts)

6. Further Processing:
   Based on product type, chestnuts go through additional steps:

   • Freezing

   • Roasting

   • Grinding (to powder or paste)

   • Packaging (vacuum, canning, nitrogen-filled bags)

Popular Chestnut Products in Global Markets

Modern chestnut processing is no longer limited to traditional roasting. There is a rising demand for convenient, value-added products.

Trends in Chestnut Processing

1. Shift to Automation
   Factories are replacing manual grading and peeling with machines to improve efficiency and hygiene.

2. Growing Export Markets
   More countries are importing chestnuts, especially frozen or ready-to-eat products. Processors need to meet strict quality and food safety standards.

3. Health-Focused Products
   Chestnuts are gluten-free, low in fat, and high in fiber. Healthy snacks and natural ingredients are gaining popularity.

4. Product Variety
   From chestnut latte to protein bars — chestnuts are now found in modern formats, not just traditional foods.

Why Smart Sorting Matters in Chestnut Processing

Before peeling or roasting, processors must remove cracked, moldy, dried, or internally rotten chestnuts. Traditional color sorters can only detect surface color changes — that’s not enough for high-end products.

Our intelligent sorting machine helps you:

• Detect internal rot using AI and multi-angle imaging

• Classify nuts by size, shape, surface damage

• Sort up to 8 product categories in one pass

This improves final product quality and reduces waste, especially in frozen and peeled chestnuts.

Coming next:
Who eats chestnuts, and how? A look at global chestnut consumption habits and product preferences.