Her first year as president at the Wandiligong Nut Festival on Saturday, Ms Hughes said personal bias or not, it was a variety of nut not to be underestimated.

“They make an amazing food, almost like a sweet potato when cooked – silky, smooth and sweet,” she said.

“They make amazing cakes, pancakes and hummus, they’re so diverse in terms of sweet and savoury.

“I just don’t think many Australian people realise it – European and Asian cultures know what chestnuts are about.” 

The popularity of chestnuts in Asian cooking is something Lydia Moschis, who runs an 1000-tree orchard at Ovens with husband Nick, knows better than anyone.

“Chinese people eat them all the time – though, we have different ways of roasting the chestnut.

“It’s very different to Australia; in China they soak them in sugar water overnight, dry and roast them.

“Many people haven’t tasted one ever before, so we teach them what it is and how to peel it.”

Mrs Moschis said not everyone was going nuts for the flavour.

“One lady I met this morning said she didn’t like them last year, but thought she’d try them once more this year – and she still doesn’t like it,” she said.

“We have lots of different produce and stalls, I’ve never seen another festival like this.”

The volunteer-run event, the only one of its kind in Australia, has been running since 2001 and grown to include guest speakers and live music.

Ms Hughes said crowds beat last year’s total of 4000, with more than 60 stallholders, all regional growers or producers.

“There was a lot of roasting and nut cracking going on, there were demonstrations for making your own Nutella, it all had a really good vibe,” she said.

“It’s nice to celebrate the agricultural industry around the valley and we really thank the committee and community for their involvement and support.”