The Walnut Tree

The Walnut Tree

In that coastal south Indian village our snacks and nuts were modest. In the evenings during idle leisure hours (we) children had access to only coconut, peanuts, puffed rice, or peas. That was before the prepackaged Haldiram, Ammas, or Lays chips showed up in the Indian markets. Some times even peanuts were a luxury! On occasion mother would give us a piece of jaggery, raisins, or popped rice. Or, even a ripe banana from our own kitchen garden. Come to think of it, our banana garden was just adjacent to the kitchen window. The large leaves would provide a cool shade to shield us from the sharp afternoon sun rays. I think the Mahatma (Mohandas Gandhi) used to favor peanuts as a snack. In small doses peanuts do no harm but when combined with a small piece of jaggery it works wonders – there would be no adverse side effects. Also it boosts the energy levels for children and adults alike. Little pieces of jaggery will quickly elevate the blood sugar and this is very useful for diabetic patients in small amounts. On long walks, trekking, or athletic sport events peanut brittle is a good source of nutrition.

I did not come to know about walnuts for most of my school and college days. But in Delhi I came to appreciate arts and humanities, a subject far removed from my specialization. Though we were mostly confined to technology and applied sciences, in the hostel we got good exposure to neighboring humanities friends. Also the JNU campus was right next door.  In those days our humanities department students started a poetry periodical (Avant-garde). Through my (poetry) submissions I got acquainted with a Kashmiri graduate student in the English Department. Once he brought a 30 lbs. sack of walnuts from his hilly garden estate. Thus sitting in his room I enjoyed freshly cracked walnuts while discussing poetry, aesthetics, and literature – across a red glowing electric heater.

But you wouldn’t know a tree like almond or walnut without touching it in the outdoors nature. In an earlier post I narrated my boyhood experiences with primitive gardening and the joy of growing an almond tree from seed. 

I get to see the nutritional benefits of walnuts first hand by observing the physically active playful squirrels in our garden and the adjoining backyard woods.  According to traditional sources (ex: Materia Medica) the nuts generate heat in the body. Walnut removes excess water from the body. It gives energy and strengthens heart and stomach. The nuts also promote male virility. Some other beneficial effects are: memory improvement, longevity, and physical vigor for the elderly. The nuts when taken with raisins (dried grapes) impart energy to the body. The antidotes for its adverse side effects are sour pomegranate, lime juice, and salt.

Here in the northeast USA we see these (wild) walnut trees majestically growing in the forests, wild areas, roadside, and even in backyards. The foliage turns bright yellow (bronze) in the autumn but the walnuts still hold on to the twigs and branches. Then our tailed rodentia (bushy tailed squirrels) get into briskly action and shake things down from above. We notice plenty of half eaten, discarded, and some barely bitten walnuts with the green outer covering on the floor during the windy fall season. The little children-like squirrels will do every trick to hide the nuts in our flowerpots, garden, overhead gutters, and in the bushes. Later in the spring and summer they wearily hunt down for every nut. Some times they succeed and some times they fail. But in the process they help the walnut trees sprout and spread all around. Walking near these thirty feet tall trees is soothing to the mind; the rustle of the overhead leaves coupled with the squirrels’ nut munching is an activity I cannot miss on my long walks in the woods. 

I forgot to mention the medicinal uses of walnuts for healthy teeth. Ayurvedic tooth powders (ex: Vajradanti) contain walnuts in their formulae. Walnut leaves and tender twigs are useful for brushing. They help in keeping dental cavities in check and the gums in healthy tight condition. Copyright 2023 by the author