When Europeans first arrived in South America, they gave trees and fruits that resembled their native ones back home the same names. As a result, the Venezuelan Castano was named after the chestnut.

It comes in a football-sized fruit, with a case that divides in three and has scores of nuts inside. These nuts are twice the size of Europan chestnuts, and make a good alternative to them.

BUY THE CHOCOLATE

250g dark chocolate, roughly chopped. Suggestion, Chulucanas 70% dark chocolate Chef’s Drops, notes of raisins and plums

40g unsalted butter

450g unsweetened chestnut purée

100g unrefined icing sugar

2 tbsp. cognac

100ml double cream

18 x 10cm loaf tin