the library

Chestnut

Sweet & rich· nut

Chestnut

What it is

Chestnut is the starchy nut of Castanea species, trees native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

What it tastes like

On the nose: phenolic, buttery, apple, fatty. Among its measured molecules: 2-n-butylfuran, 2-pentanone, 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol, p-cresol, ethyl isovalerate.

What goes with it

197 more go with it. See them all in the full library →

Salt and acid

Salt

0 mgAsian pear10 mgCinnamon100 mgFennel seed1,000 mgOlive10,000 mgFish sauce

Sodium 3 mg per 100 g — the library's own composition sheet.

Acid

Acid not measured yet.

17 of 126 compounds on file carry a paper the library can cite.

  • acetoinaromaketonereads as buttery odor (PubChem)Measured in 16 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.34; one of the 8 key olfactory compounds; steamed chestnuts were 'characterized by compounds such as 3-hydroxy-2-butanone... which contribute milky, sweet, fruity, floral, and fatty notes'Song et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph; Abstract; also the steamed-chestnut characteristic-compound sentence)
  • benzaldehydearomaaldehydereads as burning aromatic taste (PubChem)Measured in 54 of 338 ingredients.cite
    named among 'primary volatiles in stir-fried, sugar-stir-fried, and baked chestnuts... known contributors to fruity aromas'; no individual figure given in the article textSong et al. 2025, Foods (Results, discussion of stir-fried/sugar-stir-fried/baked chestnut volatiles)
  • ethanolaromaalcoholreads as burning (PubChem)Measured in 19 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.7, the second-highest of the 12 VIP-scored compoundsSong et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph)
  • phenylacetaldehydearomaaldehydeMeasured in 21 of 338 ingredients.cite
    named as 'benzeneacetaldehyde' among 'primary volatiles in stir-fried, sugar-stir-fried, and baked chestnuts'Song et al. 2025, Foods (Results, discussion of stir-fried/sugar-stir-fried/baked chestnut volatiles)
  • p-cresolaromaphenolreads as phenolic odor (PubChem)Measured in 7 of 338 ingredients.cite
    named among 'primary volatiles in stir-fried, sugar-stir-fried, and baked chestnuts', grouped with benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, hexanal and 2-hexenalSong et al. 2025, Foods (Results, discussion of stir-fried/sugar-stir-fried/baked chestnut volatiles)
  • hexanalaromaaldehydereads as sharp, aldehyde odor (PubChem)Measured in 85 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.62; one of the 8 key olfactory compounds; also named among 'primary volatiles in stir-fried, sugar-stir-fried, and baked chestnuts... known contributors to fruity aromas'Song et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph; Abstract)
  • 2-pentanonearomaketoneMeasured in 4 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.37; one of the 8 key olfactory compoundsSong et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph; Abstract)
  • ethyl isovaleratearomaesterMeasured in 10 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.03, the lowest of the 12 VIP>1 compounds; also one of the 8 key olfactory compoundsSong et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph; Abstract)
  • 2-heptanonearomaketonereads as pear-like flavor (PubChem)Measured in 22 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.12Song et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph)
  • 1-hexanolaromaalcoholreads as fatty, fruity (PubChem)Measured in 48 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.34Song et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph)
  • 2-methyl-1-butanolaromaalcoholMeasured in 15 of 338 ingredients.cite
    named as '2-methylbutanol', characteristic of steamed chestnuts along with 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol and isovaleraldehydeSong et al. 2025, Foods (Results, steamed-chestnut characteristic-compound sentence)
  • ethyl acetatearomaesterreads as fragrant odor (PubChem)Measured in 42 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.53; one of the 8 key olfactory compoundsSong et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph; Abstract)
  • 3-methylbutanalaromaaldehydereads as apple-like odor (PubChem)Measured in 22 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.57; one of the 8 key olfactory compoundsSong et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph; Abstract)
  • 3-methyl-3-buten-1-olaromaalcoholMeasured in 4 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.11; also named for steamed chestnuts alongside 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, isovaleraldehyde and 2-methylbutanolSong et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph; also the steamed-chestnut characteristic-compound sentence)
  • 2-amylfuranaromafuranMeasured in 23 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.92, the highest of the 12 compounds with VIP > 1 reported for discriminating chestnuts by cooking method; also one of only 8 compounds identified as key in the olfactory (odor) analysisSong et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph; also named among the 8 'key' compounds in the Abstract)
  • 2-n-butylfuranaromafuranMeasured in 3 of 338 ingredients.cite
    named among heptanol, octanol, amyl alcohol, 2-heptanone, nonanal, 2-ethylhexanol and 2-pentylfuran as compounds imparting 'fresh, fruity, fatty, and earthy aromas'; paper notes 2-butylfuran and 2-pentylfuran are 'typically generated via the Maillard reaction'Song et al. 2025, Foods (Results, discussion of a cluster of compounds diverging in one PCA region)
  • 2-HexenalaromaaldehydeMeasured in 31 of 338 ingredients.cite
    VIP = 1.53; one of the 8 key olfactory compounds; also grouped with hexanal among 'primary volatiles in stir-fried, sugar-stir-fried, and baked chestnuts'Song et al. 2025, Foods (Results, PLS-DA VIP-score paragraph; Abstract)

On file, no cited source yet ✳

These molecules are on record for it from the library's earlier sources. We are buying and requesting the papers; each one that lands moves its molecule up into the cited list.

  • NSFIWSANZNJXLP-XDSCYBHUSA-Nphenol
  • Roburin Ephenol
  • roburin Aphenol
  • Roburin Bphenol
  • Roburin Cphenol
  • Roburin Dphenol
  • orcinolphenol
  • flavonolflavonoid
  • γ-aminobutyric acidacid
  • L-lysineacid
  • castalaginphenol
  • Quercetin 3-allosideflavonoid
  • 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-oneflavonoid
  • Kurigalinphenol
  • 4-hydroxybenzoic acidacid
  • creatinine tautomernitrogen compound
  • 2,3,4,6-Tetragalloyl-D-glucopyranosephenol
  • [(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-6-[5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxochromen-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoateflavonoid
  • L-aspartic acidacidreads as sour (PubChem)
  • (2S)-5-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-oneflavonoid
  • [(2R,3R,4R)-4-formyl-2,3-dihydroxy-4,5-bis[(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy]pentyl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoatephenol
  • MMQXBTULXAEKQE-NZBJDVEGSA-Nphenol
  • UDYKDZHZAKSYCO-WETOHNLWSA-Nphenol
  • MMQXBTULXAEKQE-ZMCFAECESA-Nphenol
  • CID 16132408phenol
  • CID 16167197phenol
  • BMTRLZLCNOUQLK-NLNQAKQVSA-Nphenol
  • [6-[5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxochromen-3-yl]oxy-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-2-yl]methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoateflavonoid
  • [3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenoxy)oxan-2-yl]methyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate
  • [(2S,3S,4S,5S,6S)-2-[5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxochromen-3-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-3-yl] (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoateflavonoid
  • HGJXAVROWQLCTP-XPTZUXAQSA-Nphenol
  • (5-formyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methyl 4-hydroxybutanoatenitrogen compound
  • [(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxochromen-3-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-3-yl] (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoateflavonoid
  • D-Ribose, 2-C-(hydroxymethyl)-, 5-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate)phenol
  • L-lysineacid
  • Chlorogenic acidphenol
  • L-arginineacid
  • L-glutamic acidacidreads as umami sour taste (PubChem)
  • salicylic acidacid
  • gallic acidacid
  • 4-hydroxybenzoic acidphenol
  • .beta-Penta-O-galloyl-D-glucosephenol
  • (1S,2R,4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aS,10S,12aR,14bR)-10-hydroxy-1,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-2,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylic acidterpenoid
  • L-glutamic acidacid
  • L-aspartic acidacid
  • grandininphenol
  • Isorhamnetin 3-glucosideflavonoid
  • quercetinflavonoid
  • apigeninflavonoid
  • rutinflavonoid
  • kaempferolflavonoid
  • genkwaninflavonoid
  • ellagic acidphenol
  • Astragalinflavonoid
  • Helichrysosideflavonoid
  • β-pedunculaginphenol
  • tilirosideflavonoid
  • narcissinflavonoid
  • L-Cysteineacid
  • creatinine tautomernitrogen compound
  • L-alanineacidreads as sweet taste (PubChem)
  • L-serineacidreads as sweet (PubChem)
  • L-glutamineacid
  • L-lysineacidreads as sweet/bitter (PubChem)
  • UDYKDZHZAKSYCO-UOYZIOMNSA-Nphenol
  • L-tyrosineacid
  • L-leucineacid
  • L-methionineacidreads as faint (PubChem)
  • phenylalanineacidreads as bitter (PubChem)
  • Narcissinsugar
  • L-ornithineacid
  • L-Asparagineacid
  • L-histidineacidreads as sweet (PubChem)
  • L-valineacid
  • L-threonineacid
  • tryptophanacidreads as flat taste (PubChem)
  • L-isoleucineacidreads as bitter (PubChem)
  • L-arginineacid
  • L-Cysteineacid
  • N-methyl-L-prolinenitrogen compound
  • L-serineacid
  • tryptophanacid
  • phenylalanineacid
  • L-tyrosineacid
  • N-methyl-L-prolineacid
  • L-histidineacid
  • L-valineacid
  • L-threonineacid
  • L-methionineacid
  • L-Asparagineacid
  • γ-aminobutyric acidacid
  • L-isoleucineacid
  • L-leucineacid
  • (1R,3aS,5aR,5bR,7aR,9S,11aR,11bS,13aR,13bS)-3a-(hydroxymethyl)-5a,5b,8,8,11a-pentamethyl-1-prop-1-en-2-yl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,7a,9,10,11,11b,12,13,13a,13b-hexadecahydrocyclopenta[a]chrysen-9-olterpenoid
  • L-lysineacid
  • [6-[2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxochromen-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoateflavonoid
  • L-alanineacid
  • 3-hydroxybenzoic acidacid
  • glycineacidreads as sweet (PubChem)
  • vanillic acidacid
  • Castacrenin Cphenol
  • Castacrenin Bphenol
  • Castacrenin Aphenol
  • L-valineacid
  • L-ornithineacid
  • L-glutamic acidacid
  • (+)-catechinflavonoid
  • (1R,2S,24S,25R,29R)-7,8,9,12,13,14,17,18,19,25,29-undecahydroxy-24-(hydroxymethyl)-3,23,26-trioxahexacyclo[13.10.3.12,6.05,10.011,28.016,21]nonacosa-5(10),6,8,11,13,15(28),16,18,20-nonaene-4,22,27-trionephenol
  • 1-Desgalloyleugeniinphenol

Sources

  • Song et al. 2025, Foods