Chestnut Season in Serranía de Ronda
Located in Malaga’s Serranía de Ronda, the Genal Valley has already begun to show its Autumn colours. Each year, October is an important month for this beautiful location because that is the time when it welcomes its most precious fruit – the Chestnut. The variety is known as pilonga and it is such a delicacy that it is exported to most of Europe as a “delicatessen”
The first and most daring have already begun to fall to the ground, only to be swept up those walking through the area in search of a few. With the harvest almost here, the chestnuts are about ready to arrive.
The place par excellence where the chestnut is the queen is undoubtedly the Genal Valley in the province of Malaga.
Many villages in the Genal Valley, in the Serranía de Ronda, are harvesting their chestnut crops at present, and some of them have very large and extensive areas of chestnut woods.
Roasted Chestnuts
We love roasted chestnuts which you can buy in Marbella´s streets. The first rains and the smell of roasted chestnuts announce the beginning of autumn in the Costa del Sol. In many corners appear from October to January handmade wooden posts where expert hands are roasting chestnuts. It is a delicious dish to eat while strolling down the street or sitting in any square and watch people passing by.
Some interesting facts about chestnuts:
The chestnut is almost all water, giving it a very low calorie content.
They are rich in fibre, which means that they regulate your intestinal flora.
Chestnuts stand out because their protein fraction contains all the amino acids a human being needs.
It’s the moment to lose yourself in the villages and landscapes of what is better known as the Bosque de Cobre (Copper Forest)
The Copper Forest extends through the municipalities of Alpandeire, Benalauría, Cartajima, Faraján, Genalguacil, Igualeja, Jubrique, Júzcar, Parauta and Pujerra. The Genal Valley is one of the most significant producers of chestnuts on the peninsula. During October and November, several festivals are held in these villages related to this star seasonal product.
