64,058 views
© 2008 Archivio Audiovisivi Città Metropolitana di Genova http://www.cittametropolitana.genova.it An example of peasant activity in Val Petronio where today, as in the past, chestnut processing is done manually. After being harvested, chestnuts are dried so that they can be preserved for a long time, even for several months. The grà is an isolated construction, used for this specific purpose, divided into two floors by a grating that separates the fire room (below) from the chestnut room (above). The grating is made of chestnut branches placed side by side to prevent the fruit from falling into the room below, or even by a mat made of woven branches and bark of young chestnut trees. Tons of chestnuts are arranged over the entire surface of the grating. For good drying, heat and smoke are needed, not a high flame. The fire must remain lit continuously for about three weeks and the chestnuts must be stirred regularly. Once the right degree of drying has been reached, the chestnuts are removed from the grà and beaten while still hot, so that the skin comes off. To do this, they are placed in hemp sacks, which are beaten on a chestnut tree stump. In addition to the skin, the reddish film covering the chestnuts is also removed. They have become so hard that they remain intact. After being beaten, the chestnuts are cleaned, completely separated from the skin and the pomace. Finally, the larger chestnuts are separated to be eaten boiled, from the medium-sized ones, which are ground to make flour. The smaller and broken ones are fed to the animals. Subscribe to our channel to stay up to date: http://bit.ly/subcittametropolitanadi... #GenovaMetropoli Follow us on: Our website: http://www.notizie.cittametropolitana... Twitter: / metronews_ge Facebook: / cittametropolitanadigenova Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+cittamet... YouTube: http://bit.ly/cittametropolitanagenova