The neighbour next door treated us to some boiled nuts. It was not anything I've seen or eaten before; unlike chestnuts which are easily available in the market; these nuts are known as Chinese chestnut. Otherwise known as the phoenix eye fruit, the tree scientifically known as Sterculia monosperma can grow to as tall as 35 meter; and with dense leaves that don't fall easily, are ideal for growing in the streets. Said to be native to south China's Guangdong Province, they are known as píngpó 蘋婆 there. The nuts which are black in colour are found in striking red pods which open like a phoenix eye when ripe. Not sure about the plain uncooked or the roasted phoenix eyes, the boiled ones are rather yummy.
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