Home of Freeze Dried Chestnut and Freeze Dried Fruit Products

The products

‘Country Treats Chestnut Products are prepared from chestnuts grown and hand harvested on a spray-free farmlet overlooking Lake Horowhenua in the lower North Island of New Zealand. ‘

Chestnut Products

Country Treats Chestnut Products are prepared from chestnuts grown and hand harvested on a spray-free farmlet overlooking Lake Horowhenua in the lower North Island of New Zealand.

The Chestnut products include Chestnut Flour, Chestnut Crumb and Chestnut Slices, which are all milled on site.

These healthy Chestnut Products are ideal for baking, cooking, toppings, dips or salads. Including; fruit/nut bars, breads, slices, cakes, muffins, cup-cakes, biscuits through to casseroles, stews, stir-frys and soups.

Country Treats is in the unique position of being the only chestnut processors, within New Zealand, that has total control of the process, beginning with the growing of the raw chestnuts, freeze drying them and then turning them into anyone of the wide range of chestnut products that Country Treats produces.

We are unique as this total process is carried out ‘on site’ at the property of Country Treats in Levin, Horowhenua, New Zealand.

As an example, at no stage do the chestnuts that make up the 100% chestnut products leave the Country Treats property until they have been fully processed and packaged. The chestnuts are grown, picked, sorted/graded, freeze dried, milled and packaged on the property of Country Treats.

Apart from the growing, of the chestnuts, the rest of the process is carried out within Country Treats fully registered and certified Custom Food Contrl Plan manufacturing premises.

Chestnut Products are all natural, extremely healthy and very versatile.

100% New Zealand Chestnuts
All Natural, Gluten and Wheat free
Sweet Nutty Flavour
Low in fat, cholesterol, sodium and lactose
Fresh or Freeze Dried
High in Carbohydrates
Quality Protein
No Additives or Colourings

The Process:

Country Treats grows its own Chestnuts and produces its own Chestnut Products.

The Chestnut season in the Horowhenua runs from mid March through to May. During the season fresh Chestnuts are available and Country Treats are happy to take orders.

The process of taking the raw Chestnut through to the final Freeze Dried Chestnut products ready for sale is: The Chestnuts fall from the trees.

The Chestnuts are harvested daily using a hand held ‘Nut Harvester’.
The Chestnuts are then sorted and graded.
They are weighed and washed.
They are placed into a chiller or freezer, depending on the end use.
When required the Chestnuts are placed into our Freeze Drier, and over a 24 hour period they are dried.
The Chestnuts are removed from the Freeze Drier and the shells are removed.
The Chestnuts can then be stored in airtight containers or placed into our Pin Mill for the production of Chestnut Flour or Chestnut Crumb.
The product is then weight and placed into vacuum packed stand up pouches, sealed and labelled ready for sale.

It is worth noting that it takes 3kgs of raw Chestnuts to make 1kg of Freeze Dried Chestnuts.

Freeze Dried Fruit

Freeze Dried Fruit is about removing all the water content from the fruit without destroying the structure or composition of the fruit.

Freeze Dried Fruit

Freeze-drying significantly reduces the total weight of the food as it removes all the water from the fruit. Water can make up to 80 to 90 percent of the fruits weight.

Country Treats purchased a Cuddon FD80 Freeze Drier for processing it’s range of Freeze Dried Fruit. It is a tray style Freeze Drier which produces the driest possible end product.

Freeze drying is a process that removes the water content from the fruit by first freezing the water and then vaporizing the ice crystal. The ice vapour will permeate through the membrane of the fruit and as the process continues the fruit will be left free of moisture and therefore, is dry.

Country Treats choose to Freeze Dry its fruit products because of the high flavour retention and maximum retention of nutritional values.

Freeze drying causes minimal damage to the texture and structure ot the fruit, with little or no change in the shape and colour of the dried fruit.

The process of Freeze Dried Fruit leaves the fruit with an open struture that allows for the fast and complete rehydration.

If the Freeze Dried Fruit is kept sealed to prevent the re-absortion of moisture, the fruit can be stored at room temperature without refrigeration, and be protected against spoilage for many years.

Preservation is possible because the greatly reduced water content inhibits the action of microorganisms and enzymes that would normally spoil or degrade the fruit.

Freeze Dried Fruit can be used in baking, deserts, mixed into your cereal or yogurt and of course eaten as a crisp snack straight from the packet.

Freeze Dried Fruit retain the calorie and fibre values equal to its fresh counterparts and also contain important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants

Also by turning the Freeze Dried Fruit into a powder it can provide you with a concentrated form of antioxidants and fibre.

Country Treats recommends that once any freeze dried product is opened that it is stored in a freezer to prolong its crispness and shelf life.

By utilising both the freeze drier and premises further, Country Treats, is able to bring it’s range of freeze dried “Extreme Fruit Treats” and “Extreme Fruit Powder” to our customers.

Both of these products are made entirely of 100% freeze dried fruit and are packaged in re-sealable stand up pouches.

The “Extreme Fruit Treats” range of products are for those that want to eat on the go, children’s lunches, trampers, runners, bikers etc.

The “Extreme Fruit Powder” range of products are for those that are after a great tasting healthy drink, milk shake or smoothie, or for adding flavour to your yoghurt, cream, icings etc.

Where ever possible Country Treats sources the fruit direct from the orchard, but this is not always possible.

Get In Touch!

214 Kawiu Road

Levin 5510,

Horowhenua

New Zealand

021 502 366