Pistachio

An Introduction The pistachio is a member of the cashew family, and is native to the deserts of Asia Minor and West India. According to the folklore of the Middle East, young lovers who meet under pistachio trees and hear the nuts crack open on a full moon night will eventually marry. Queen Sheba liked pistachios so much she decreed that the yearly crop in her kingdom would belong solely to the royal palace. In the 20th Century, hate and turmoil in the Middle East helped boost pistachio production in California. What is Pistachio? Pistachio is the fruit of Pistacchio vera tree. It is a yellow-green coloured nut found inside a hard, naturally beiged colored shell. The shells of some pistachios are colored red (with vegetable dye), while others have been blanched until white. Pistachios aren’t actually nuts. Pistachio 'nuts' are actually seeds of red or yellow plum-like fruits whose flesh is removed during processing. However, everyone calls them a nut because they look like 'nuts' and belong to the cashew family. Other things in the cashew family include sumac, mangos, and poison ivy. Pistachio nuts have a delicate, subtle flavor that is wonderful either for eating out of hand or for flavoring both sweet and savory dishes.