I was walking in the forest when I heard a pitter-patter sound, like the sound of water dripping from the leaves after it has rained. But it hadn’t rained recently so I stood still and watched to see what was falling. Beech nuts! I’ve seen the empty outer shells before but never the actual nuts – I think the squirrels get them if you’re not quick.
The individual nuts were falling out of the outer shells onto the ground. I picked up a nut and found that unlike most nuts it was very easy to open with my finger nails. The nut looks a bit like a pine nut, and surprisingly it also tasted a bit like a pine nut.
I’ve done a little research and found that beech nuts (also called beechmast) are high in tannins and shouldn’t be eaten in large quantities. Soaking them for 8 hours or more and then rinsing them removes some of the tannins and probably makes them easier to digest.
We opened and then soaked the ones we collected and made pesto with them, not quite as creamy as when made with pine nuts but still delicious.
I have 20+ year old beech trees. They are producing nuts for the first time. Is this normal?
Thanks, Ron
I don’t know about beech trees, but most trees take a good few years before producing fruit or nuts, for many trees I think it is over 20 years, so sounds about right.
hi,beech trees only fruit every three or four years once theyve matured,sound like yours has reached maturity just dont expect them every year.
We have a 40+ year old gorgeous beech tree. This year we have filled two big barrels with beech nuts and they’re still dropping. This is about 100 times more than other years. How come?
lucky sod,still searching for one in sussex
beech trees generally dont produce a good mast until they reach 40 years old – so yours is just on que
I have a copper beach and weeping beech both planted in about 1954. Suddenly this year we have barrels of beech nuts from both trees – 6 so far and still falling – especially the copper beech – We have never had more than an occasional nut. The squirrels are fat and not interested in our bird feeder. Glad to know we can use them like pine nuts. BBMD
We have lots of pods and nut shells, but no nut meat inside, why?
They could have been eaten by insects. If you look at the nut, sometimes you will see a small hole in it (this can happen to many kinds of nuts) – this is where the insects have entered and left.
thanks for your info., we have just been on a family walk with our 6 year old son who picked the nut cases up as part of his ‘explorer’ beavers badge. We didn’t know what tree the nut case belonged too – but we do now …………….
Thanks i have always wondered if they were edible
Can beechnuts be converted to oil ? I remember as a child during
WW2 in germany collecting them in exchange for oil.
Can you comment please? Thank you.
Not something I know about, but maybe as most nuts can be made into oil.
I just found some in my yard. I was wanting to know about eating them.. I see you have made a comment about that. I will be trying them.