Description: Castanha Marvão-Portalegre PDO is the name given to the fruit of the chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill), Longal from the varieties Bárea, Clarinha ou Enxerta, e Bravo. They may also benefit from the use of the denomination Castanha Marvão-Portalegre the chestnuts presented pounded.
Production method: The specific steps in production that must take place in the delimited geographical area are fruit production, harvesting and drying of the nuts. The fruit collection is made from the ground and placed preferably in baskets of dick. The fruits are harvested by variety and put together in batches.
Special features: The Castanha Marvão-Portalegre PDO fresh chestnut has a color that varies from the spleen dark brown in the Bárea variety, lighter brown in the Clarinha or Enxerta variety and bright reddish brown in the Bravo variety. Also the aptitude for the debarking is variable, being regular in the variety Bárea, good and very good in the varieties Clarinha or Enxerta and Bravo, respectively. It is verified that in all the varieties a kg contains between 80 and 125 fruits.
Production area: The geographical area of production of Castanha Marvão-Portalegre PDO is limited to the municipalities of Marvão, Castelo de Vide e Portalegre.
History: The history of the Castanha Marvão-Portalegre PDO is closely linked to the geographical area. The chestnut tree that grows in the Northeast Alentejo is the only spot in the South of the country. The chestnut tree and chestnut are part of the customs of the Alentejo people and in the mouth of FREI AMADOR ARRAIS, in his dialogues work (ARRAIS, 15th century), "... Seems to restrain nature in the freshness of the grove." The Chestnut represented a considerable source of subsistence for the populations of this area, poor in economic resources. Chestnut production serves not only as a human food source, as well as for feeding the animals. To emphasize the traditional and regional dishes of chestnut, that throughout the times, have always made the delights of the Alentejo people, like for example, soup of chestnut, pig with chestnut, turkey with chestnut and flour of chestnut.
Product specification (pdf)
Producer group
APAFNA - Agrupamentos de Produtores Agrícolas e Florestais do Norte Alentejano
Control and certification body
AGRICERT - Certificação de Produtos Alimentares, Lda.
Control plan
Control plan (pdf)
Publication in EU official journal
Regulamento (CE) N.º 1107/96 da Comissão de 12.06.1996 – L 148/1
Publication in the Portuguese official journal
Aviso n.º 4314/2005, de 21.04.2005