Enjoyable Truths About Pistachio Nuts

Do you enjoy eating pistachios? It has been my experience that pistachios are enjoyed the world over. They can be eaten in a raw state and roasted within their shells, thus making them such an interesting food. Their color is also eye-catching and appealing. Well, I have some interesting tidbits for you that you may not be aware of regarding these tasty nuts.

Pistachios technically are not really nuts. This is the truth! What we call pistachio nuts are actually the seeds of a fruit; the outer fruit is removed during processing. But because they look so similar to nuts and they are in the cashew family, most people refer to them as "nuts." Poison ivy, mango, and sumac are also in the cashew family.


Pistachios are also known to surf. Well, sort of. Even though California is mostly known for "happy cows" and oranges, it is the second largest pistachio producer on the planet. As a matter of fact, California grows 98% of the pistachios that are purchased in this country. Iran is the top producer of pistachios globally. From now on, when you hear of Iran, think about pistachios.

Pistachios are even in the Bible. They are one of only two nuts mentioned there, and the reference can be found in the Old Testament in Genesis 43:11. Almonds are also mentioned. Muslim legend holds that Adam brought the pistachio nut to Earth.

Pistachios are the food of royalty. According to myth, it was Queen Sheba who pronounced that pistachios were to be an exclusive food of the royal household. She also forbade the growing of the nut by commoners for their own consumption. A passion for pistachios was also exemplified by Nebuchadenezzar, the ancient king of Babylon. It is said that in his hanging gardens he had planted pistachio trees. Akbar the Great, a Mogul Emperor, would hold royal feasts that were fit for a king. He usually served chicken that had been fed pistachio nuts for at least 6 to 8 weeks to enhance their flavor.

Pistachios are joyful. In China people refer to them as "happy nuts" while in Iran they are known as "smiling nuts." Middle Easterners call the pistachio the "smiling pistachio." In these countries, if you hear the pistachios shells opening on a tree while you are resting beneath it, it is considered good luck.

There are many colors of pistachios. A number of pistachio-producing countries dye the nuts to make them more attractive. In the United States, to disguise imperfections in the shells and make the nuts tempt the taste buds of vending machine patrons, pistachios are sometimes dyed red. Most of the time they are green in color.

It's easy to see that there are many other characteristics to the common pistachio, beyond their tastiness. Pistachios have a story all of their own that comes from every part of the planet.