Malabar Chesnut Money Tree Money Plant

Malabar chestnuts are the nuts of a large, woody, football-shaped pod, averaging 5 to 7 centimeters. The pod's exterior is tough, woody, rough, and fibrous, showcasing longitudinal ridges extending the capsule's length. As the pods ripen from green to dark brown, almost black, they swell and split at these longitudinal seams to expel the nuts. Inside the pods, there is a thick protective layer encasing five valves with tightly packed nuts, and each pod generally holds 10 to 25 nuts. The nuts are enveloped in a white, fleshy, and spongy coating that is discarded to reveal a textured, light brown protective layer with faint white stripes. This layer is tightly adhered to the nut and must be peeled before consuming. Raw Malabar chestnuts have a mild nutty taste reminiscent of peanuts and almonds.