Learn about Qs Nuts in Somerville and the history of the American chestnut trees

A favorite type of nuts have an interesting history

Updated: 8:20 PM EST Jan 6, 2023

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ON THE CORNER OF HIGHLAND AVENUE, A STOREFRONT THAT DOES NOT REALLY NEED A SIGN. >> THE SMELL OF IT IS WHAT GETS YOU. >> THE AROMA OF SWEET AND SAVORY SPICES HAS YOUR TASTE BUDS TINGLING FROM BLOCKS AWAY. A ASSORTED BLEND OF NUTS GET A BALANCE OF FLAVOR. WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS BEHIND IN THE ROASTING, HE HAS A REPERTOIRE OF RECIPES. >> PROBABLY 24 LAYERS OF PRODUCTION. >> 22 YEARS AGO, HE AND HIS WIFE THOUGHT THEY WOULD MAYBE ROAST A FEW BATCHES. >> WE WANTED ANOTHER SOURCE OF INCOME. WE WANTED TO CREATE A BUSINESS AS A FAMILY AND HAVE THE KIDS WORK WITH US. >> AGENT WAS JUST EIGHT YEARS OLD, THE FIRST TIME HE HELPED HIS FAMILY STIR UP THESE CRUNCHY CREATIONS. >> I LEARNED TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE DO. . >> WE STARTED OUT WITH CINNAMON AND VANILLA, STARTED OUT WITH THE BASICS. >> ANYTHING BUT BASIC NOW. >> FROM THE UNIQUE. >> WE DO SOME PRETTY WILD STUFF. >> WE PARTNER WITH A MUSHROOM FARM. >> ROTATING ROASTS OF CUSTOMER FAVORITES. >> MAPLE BOURBON PECAN, ONE OF MY FAVORITES. IT IS DEPENDENT ON THE FLAVOR PROFILE. >> THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIMENTATION, THANKS TO THE CREATIVE CALLING. >> I COULD ONLY COOK A CINNAMON AND VANILLA FOR SO LONG. >> THE BANANA FOSTER, ITS IRON BY -- INSPIRED BY HIS FAVORITE DESSERT. >> IT IS DEFINITELY HOT. >> CUSTOMERS START TO BAIL OUT. >> THANKFULLY, THEY COME BACK. MOST OF THE INGREDIENTS LOCALLY SOURCED. THE FIRST FREEZE-DRIED ON-SITE. >> THAT IS OUR MAPLE BOURBON, THE MOST POPULAR FLAVOR. IT HAS ORGANIC RAW SUGAR WITH MAPLE AND REAL BOURBON. >> AS THE FOG BEGINS TO LIFT OVER THE ROLLING HILLS OF HILL PARK IN WORCESTER, A SITE THAT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN FROM OUR THAN A CENTURY. LOIS, WITH THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT COOPERATORS FOUNDATION COLLECTS THE NUTS FROM AN AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE. >> THERES NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE ALIVE TODAY WHO REMEMBERED CHESTNUT TREES. >> THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT WAS A DOMINANT FORCE IN THE FORCE OF NEW ENGLAND. THEY GREW TALL AND FAST UNTIL THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DEADLY BLIGHT. >> WHEN IT CAME THROUGH, THE WILDLIFE POPULATION TOOK A NOSEDIVE BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF THEIR FOODS. >> 1912, THE NEW YORK TIMES WARNED THAT THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT WAS DOOMED. A FEW YEARS LATER IT WOULD BE FUNCTIONALLY EXTINCT IN MASSACHUSETTS. THEY STILL GROW HERE IN GREAT NUMBERS, BUT THEY ARE NOW MORE SHRUB THAN TREE. >> IF YOU WALK THROUGH THE WEBS TODAY, YOU WOULD SEE CHESTNUT SPROUTS EVERYWHERE. THE TOP OF THE TREE DIES COME UP THE ROOT STAY ALIVE. >> TRYING TO REPOPULATE THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE WITH TOWERING AMERICAN CHESTNUTS. FROM THESE SEEDLINGS COME INTO THIS TREE FIVE YEARS OLD. >> IT IS SUCH A GREAT TREAT AND A GREAT FOOD PRODUCT. >> YE PARTNERSHIP WITH GREENHILL PARKS COALITION IS GROWING -- THE PARTNERSHIP WITH GREENHILL PARKS COALITION IS GROWN. >> THAT IS PRETTY EXCITING. >> MOST OF US KNOW THE CHESTNUT FROM THE IMAGES OF HOLIDAY ROASTING AND CATCHY LYRICS. INSIDE, A VELVETY SOFT NUT WITH APPEALING QUALITIES. >> MOST OF NUTS ARE 70 TO 80% FAT. CHESTNUTS ARE LESS THAN 5% FAT. MORE VITAMIN C THAN A LEMON. ANTHONY: THAT GROUP IS PARTNERING WITH A LOCAL SCHOOL TO SPREAD EDUCATION. IT SHAYNA: THERE ARE MORE FLAVORS AT THEIR BOSTON MARKET LOCATION, WHICH ARE DELICIOUS. THEY RECENTL

Learn about Qs Nuts in Somerville and the history of the American chestnut trees

A favorite type of nuts have an interesting history

Updated: 8:20 PM EST Jan 6, 2023

Q's Nuts was founded in 2000 with the simple philosophy that high-quality ingredients, a love of good food and a passion for creating in the kitchen would produce some of the best-tasting nut roasts around. All recipes are vegan as well as gluten, soy and dairy free. They use raw organic cane sugar, as well as organic chocolate, pure spices and natural avors.

Q's Nuts was founded in 2000 with the simple philosophy that high-quality ingredients, a love of good food and a passion for creating in the kitchen would produce some of the best-tasting nut roasts around. All recipes are vegan as well as gluten, soy and dairy free. They use raw organic cane sugar, as well as organic chocolate, pure spices and natural avors.

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Learn about Q's Nuts in Somerville and the history of the American ... - WCVB Boston