Nuts are more than a delicious source of protein, good fats, and important vitamins and minerals, making them a great go-to snack or recipe addition. Learn more about what each unique and tasty nut can bring to your table!
Almonds are universally loved for their light, sophisticated flavor, and they also have a robust history. The early Romans showered newlyweds with almonds for fertility, and in Southern Europe, almonds were honored as a symbol of good luck. In America, gifts of almonds represent happiness, romance, good health and fortune.
An attempt to grow almonds in New England in 1840 failed because of the severe climate, but in 1843 almonds trees brought from the East Coast to California thrived. Thus, California is now the only almond producing state in the country.
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Today we refer to the cashew as a nut, but it’s actually a seed. Grown at the bottom of a delicate, pear-like fruit, cashew’s closest relatives include mangos and pistachios. And even though cashews are cultivated inside an extremely protective, honeycombed shell, they are the only nuts marketed exclusively without their shells.
Originally spread from Brazil by Portuguese explorers, international trade of cashews began in the 1920s. Now they are grown all over the world.
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According to an ancient manuscript found in China, the hazelnut took its place among the five sacred nourishments God bestowed on human beings. In some cultures, hazelnuts were used to create medicines for a variety of ailments – from serious diseases to baldness!
Also known as filberts (since they ripen about the time of St. Philibert Day in late August), hazelnuts are either enjoyed as a delicious snack, a confectionery ingredient or nut topping. Approximately 70% of today's hazelnuts are grown in Turkey, while almost all domestic hazelnuts are grown near Portland, Oregon.
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The macadamia tree is one of Australia’s gifts to the world. While macadamia nuts are often associated with Hawaii, they’re actually native to the rain forests of Queensland, Australia. Macadamia nuts (sometimes called Queensland nuts) are named after botanist John Macadam, who first described the tree’s genus. Though they are grown throughout the world, Australia remains the world’s largest grower of macadamia nuts, producing approximately 40,000 tons of in-shell nuts per year. The white, crunchy nut is one most desirable in-demand treats.
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When you consider that the average American consumes 12 pounds of peanuts a year, it’s safe to assume it’s a popular nut. Or is it? Actually, the peanut isn’t a nut at all, but a legume, which means it grows underground like a potato and is related to peas and beans.
In the U.S., average annual consumption of peanuts tops 1.3 million in-shell tons. Over 50% of that quantity goes into the production of peanut butter.
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“Pecan” comes from the Native American word “paccan,” which means a nut with a shell so hard it must be cracked with a stone.
Indigenous to the South Central U.S. and Northern Mexico, Pecans are one of the newest domesticated major crops, with commercial production beginning in the 1880s. Today, consumers enjoy more than 500 varieties of this delicious, flavorful nut, both as a snack and an ingredient in cooking and baking recipes.
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A favorite in healthy Mediterranean diets, pine nuts are the hard-to-harvest seed of the umbrella-shaped Stone Pine tree, which has been cultivated for its nuts for over 6,000 years.
This versatile, torpedo-shaped kernel has been used for centuries in a variety of international cuisines, including Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian. In fact, its sweet flavor and delicate crunch continues to be used as the basis of great pestos, breads and pastries, or to add body, texture and flavor to favorite sauces, entrées and salads.
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The pistachio, a member of the cashew family, is a small tree originating from Central Asia and the Middle East. Pistachio nuts have long been revered as the symbol of wellness and robust health. American botanist William E. Whitehouse brought pistachios to the U.S. in 1930 and planted the first test plots. However, pistachio trees take 7 to 10 years to mature, so it was almost a decade before he had his first success.
The pistachios uniqueness is its green color. Used in desserts and for snacking, they are quite a delicacy because of their rich, agreeable flavor.
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Native to the Americas, sunflowers were cultivated for their seeds thousands of years ago in present-day Mexico, Arizona and New Mexico. Some archaeologists suggest that the sunflower may have been domesticated before corn. Sunflower kernels were ground into flour for cakes or bread, squeezed for their oil or served shell-on as a snack.
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Did you know that walnuts are the oldest known tree food? Or that they’re the most common nut used in American home-cooked recipes and restaurant dishes.
In ancient Persia, around 7000 B.C., English merchant ships first started trading walnuts along the Mediterranean Coast. Since walnuts were never commercially produced in England, people believe the name "English walnuts" originated from this historical trading. In the late 1700s, some Franciscan fathers from Mexico and Spain brought walnut trees to California, which now produces 70% of the world's walnuts.
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