Pine nut - wikipedia Pine nut For other uses of `` pine nuts '', see Araucaria nuts. Shelled European pine nuts ( Pinus pinea ) Shelled Korean pine nuts ( Pinus koraiensis ) Stone pine cone with pine nuts -- note two nuts under each cone scale Macro photograph showing pine kernel with both halfs of its shell. Pine nuts ( also called piñon or pignoli / pinˈyōlē / ) are the edible seeds of pines ( family Pinaceae, genus Pinus ). About 20 species of pine produce seeds large enough to be worth harvesting ; in other pines the seeds are also edible, but are too small to be of notable value as a human food. Contents 1 Species and geographic spread 1.1 Species list 2 Pollination and seed development 3 Ecology and status 3.1 Elevation and pinecone production 4 Physical characteristics 5 Culinary uses 5.1 Taste disturbances 6 Nutritional information ( per 100 g ) 7 Pine nut oil 8 Other uses 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External links Species and geographic spread In Europe and places with a Mediterranean climate species are widely harvested, Korean pine ( Pinus koraiensis ) in northeast Asia ( the most important species in international trade ), and chilgoza pine ( Pinus gerardiana ) in the western Himalaya. Four other species, Siberian pine ( Pinus sibirica ), Siberian dwarf pine ( Pinus pumila ), Chinese white pine ( Pinus armandii ) and lacebark pine ( Pinus bungeana ), are also used to a lesser extent. Russia is the largest producer of Pinus sibirica nuts in the world followed by Mongolia which produces over 10,000 tonnes of forest grown nuts annually, the majority of harvest is exported to China. Afghanistan is an important source of pine nuts, behind China and Korea. Pine nuts produced in Europe mostly come from the stone pine ( Pinus pinea ), which has been cultivated for its nuts for over 5,000 years, and harvested from wild trees for far longer. The Swiss pine ( Pinus cembra ) is also used to a very small extent. In North America, the main species are three of the pinyon pines : Colorado pinyon ( Pinus edulis ), single - leaf pinyon ( Pinus monophylla ), and Mexican pinyon ( Pinus cembroides ). The other eight pinyon species are used to a small extent, as are gray pine ( Pinus sabineana ), Coulter pine ( Pinus coulteri ), Torrey pine ( Pinus torreyana ), sugar pine ( Pinus lambertiana ) and Parry pinyon ( Pinus quadrifolia ). Here, the nuts themselves are known by the Spanish name for the pinyon pine : piñon ( plural : piñones ). In the United States, pine nuts are mainly harvested by Native American and Hispano communities, particularly in the Western United States and Southwestern United States, by the Uto - Aztecan Shoshone, Paiute, Navajo, Pueblo, Hopi, Washoe, and Hispanos of New Mexico. Certain treaties negotiated by tribes and laws in Nevada guarantee Native Americans ' right to harvest pine nuts, and the state of New Mexico protects the use of the word piñon for use with pine nuts from certain species of indigenous New Mexican pines. The Pinus monophylla seeds, commonly known as the Nevada Soft Shell Pine Nut, are harvested by commercial harvesters in Nevada, and sold throughout the western US. Species list For those seeking to grow edible landscapes, these are the more commonly used species. Old World Pinus pinea -- Mediterranean Stone pine Pinus cembra -- Swiss pine Pinus koraiensis -- Korean pine Pinus gerardiana -- Chilgoza pine Pinus sibirica -- Siberian pine Pinus pumila -- Siberian dwarf pine Pinus armandii -- Chinese white pine Pinus bungeana -- lacebark pine New World Pinus cembroides -- Mexican pinyon Pinus orizabensis -- Orizaba pinyon Pinus johannis -- Johann 's pinyon ( includes P. discolor -- Border pinyon ) Pinus culminicola -- Potosi pinyon Pinus remota -- Texas pinyon or papershell pinyon Pinus edulis -- Two - needle piñon or Colorado pinyon ( when grown in Colorado ) Pinus monophylla -- Single - leaf pinyon Pinus quadrifolia -- Parry pinyon Pollination and seed development The pine nut ( seed ) species will take a time that depends on the exact species ( e.g. 36 months for a stone pine seed ) to complete its maturity ; to reach full maturity, the environmental conditions must be favorable for the tree and its cone. For some American species development begins in early spring with pollination. A tiny cone, about the size of a small marble, will form from mid-spring to the end of summer ; the premature cone will then become and remain dormant ( with a cessation of growth ) until the following spring. The cone will then commence growth until it reaches maturity near the end of summer. The mature piñon pine cone is ready to harvest ten days before the green cone begins to open. A cone is harvested by placing it in a burlap bag and exposing it to a heat source such as the sun to begin the drying process. It takes about 20 days until the cone fully opens. Once it is fully open and dry, the seed can be easily extracted in various ways. The most common and practical extraction method used is the repeated striking of the burlap bag containing the cone ( s ) against a rough surface to cause the cone ( s ) to shatter, leaving just the job of separating by hand the seed from the residue within the bag. Another option for harvesting is to wait until the cone opens on the tree ( as it naturally will ) and harvest the cone from the piñon pine, followed by the extracting process mentioned above. Fallen seed can also be gathered beneath the trees. Ecology and status In the United States, millions of hectares of productive pinyon pine woods have been destroyed due to conversion of lands, and in China, destructive harvesting techniques ( such as breaking off whole branches to harvest the cones ) and the removal of trees for timber have led to losses in production capacity. Elevation and pinecone production European Stone Pine nuts ( Pinus pinea ) to be compared with the picture below Korean Pine ( Pinus koraiensis ) pine nuts - unshelled, and shell, above ; shelled, below The elevation of the pinyon pine is an important determinant of the quantity of pine cone production, and therefore, will largely determine the amount of pine nuts the tree will yield. American Pinyon pine cone production is most commonly found at an elevation between 6,000 feet ( 1,800 m ) and 8,500 feet ( 2,600 m ), and ideally at 7,000 feet ( 2,100 m ). This is due to higher temperatures at elevations lower than 6,000 feet ( 1,800 m ) during the spring, which dry up humidity and moisture content ( particularly snow packs ) that provide for the tree throughout the spring and summer, causing little nourishment for pine cone maturity. Although there are several other environmental factors that determine the conditions of the eco-system ( such as clouds and rain ), without sufficient water the trees tend to abort cones. High humidity encourages cone development. There are certain topographical areas found in lower elevations, such as shaded canyons, where the humidity remains constant throughout the spring and summer, allowing pine cones to fully mature and produce seed. At elevations above 8,500 feet ( 2,600 m ), the temperature substantially drops, drastically affecting the state of the dormant cone. During the winter, frequent dramatic changes in temperature, along with drying, gusty winds, make the cones susceptible to freeze - drying that damages them permanently ; in this case, growth is stunted and the seeds wither away. Physical characteristics Pinon nuts ( Pinus edulis ) packed for shipment, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1921 Pine nuts contain 10 -- 34 % protein depending on species, with stone pine having the highest content. They are also a source of dietary fiber. When first extracted from the pine cone, they are covered with a hard shell ( seed coat ), thin in some species, thick in others. The nutrition is stored in the embryo ( sporophyte ) in the centre. Although a nut in the culinary sense, in the botanical sense pine nuts are seeds ; being a gymnosperm, they lack a carpel ( fruit ) outside. The shell must be removed before the pine nut can be eaten. Unshelled pine nuts have a long shelf life if kept dry and refrigerated ( − 5 ° C ( 23 ° F ) to 2 ° C ( 36 ° F ) ) ; shelled nuts ( and unshelled nuts in warm conditions ) deteriorate rapidly, becoming rancid within a few weeks or even days in warm humid conditions. Pine nuts are commercially available in shelled form, but due to poor storage, can have poor flavor and may be already rancid at the time of purchase. Consequently, pine nuts are often frozen to preserve their flavor. European pine nuts may be distinguished from Asian ones by their greater length in comparison to girth ; Asian pine nuts are stubbier, shaped somewhat like long kernels of corn. The American piñon nuts are known for their large size and ease of shelling. In the United States, P. edulis, the hard shell of New Mexico and Colorado, became a sought - after species due to the trading post system, and the Navajo people who used the nuts as a means of commerce. The Italian pine nut ( P. pinea ) was brought to the United States by immigrants, and became a favored treat along the East Coast in the early 1930s, when bumper crops of American pine nuts were readily available at low prices. Culinary uses Nuts, pine nuts, shelled, dried Nutritional value per 100 g ( 3.5 oz ) Energy 2,815 kJ ( 673 kcal ) Carbohydrates 13.1 g Starch 1.4 g Sugars 3.6 g Dietary fiber 3.7 g Fat 68.4 g Saturated 4.9 g Monounsaturated 18.7 g Polyunsaturated 34.1 g Protein 13.7 g Vitamins Quantity % DV Vitamin A equiv. beta - Carotene 0 % 1 μg 0 % 17 μg Thiamine ( B1 ) 35 % 0.4 mg Riboflavin ( B2 ) 17 % 0.2 mg Niacin ( B3 ) 29 % 4.4 mg Pantothenic acid ( B5 ) 6 % 0.3 mg Vitamin B6 8 % 0.1 mg Folate ( B9 ) 9 % 34 μg Choline 11 % 55.8 mg Vitamin C 1 % 0.8 mg Vitamin E 62 % 9.3 mg Vitamin K 51 % 53.9 μg Minerals Quantity % DV Calcium 2 % 16 mg Copper 65 % 1.3 mg Iron 42 % 5.5 mg Magnesium 71 % 251 mg Manganese 419 % 8.8 mg Phosphorus 82 % 575 mg Potassium 13 % 597 mg Selenium 1 % 0.7 μg Zinc 67 % 6.4 mg Other constituents Quantity Water 2.3 g Units μg = micrograms mg = milligrams IU = International units Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source : USDA Nutrient Database Pine nuts have been eaten in Europe and Asia since the Paleolithic period. They are frequently added to meat, fish, salads and vegetable dishes or baked into bread. In Italian they are called pinoli ( in the US they are often called pignoli, but in Italy pignolo is actually a word far more commonly used to describe a fussy, overly fastidious or extremely meticulous person ) and are an essential component of Italian pesto sauce ; the upsurge in the popularity of this sauce since the 1990s has increased the visibility of the nut in America, primarily on the West Coast. Torta della nonna ( literally `` granny 's cake '' ) is a generic Italian dish name that in most families indicates an old family recipe for any kind of cake but often is used for a tart or a pie filled with custard, topped with pine nuts and optionally dusted with icing sugar. Pignoli cookies, an Italian American specialty confection ( in Italy these would be called biscotti ai pinoli ), are made of almond flour formed into a dough similar to that of a macaroon and then topped with pine nuts. In Catalonia, a sweet is made of small marzipan balls covered with pine nuts, painted with egg and lightly cooked, and those are called `` Panellets ''. Pine nuts are also featured in the salade landaise of southwestern France. The Nevada, or Great Basin, pine nut has a sweet fruity flavor and is promoted for its large size, sweet flavor and ease of peeling. Pine nuts are also widely used in Middle Eastern cuisine, reflected in a diverse range of dishes such as kibbeh, sambusak, desserts such as baklava, and many others. Throughout Europe and Middle East the pine nuts used are traditionally from Pinus pinea ( stone pine ). They are easily distinguished from the Asian pine nuts by their more slender shape and more homogeneous flesh. Because of the lower price, Asian pine nuts are also often used, especially in cheaper preparations. Pine nuts contain thiamine ( vitamin B ) and protein. Pine nut coffee, known as piñón ( Spanish for pine nut ), is a specialty found in the southwest United States, especially New Mexico, and is typically a dark roast coffee having a deep, nutty flavor ; roasted and lightly salted pine nuts can often be found sold on the side of the road in cities across New Mexico to be used for this purpose, as well as a snack. Taste disturbances Pine nuts can cause taste disturbances, lasting from a few days to a few weeks after consumption. A bitter, metallic, unpleasant taste is reported. There are no known lasting effects, with the FDA reporting that there are `` no apparent adverse clinical side effects ''. This phenomenon was first described in a scientific paper in 2001. The Nestlé Research Centre has hypothesized that nuts from Pinus armandii, which occurs mostly in China, are the cause of the problem. The nuts of this species are smaller, duller, and more rounded than typical pine nuts. A 2011 study found results consistent with this hypothesis and also suggested that chemicals used in the shelling process might be responsible. Metallic taste disturbance, known as metallogeusia, is typically reported 1 -- 3 days after ingestion, being worse on day two and typically lasting up to two weeks. Cases are self - limited and resolve without treatment. Möller has postulated a hypothesis -- to explain both the delayed onset of, and the long - lasting nature of, the metallic or bitter taste sensation -- involving a well - known physiological process known as enterohepatic recirculation ( EHR ), which Möller describes as a `` remove - recycle - repeat '' digestive process where toxins could potentially circulate through the digestive tract multiple times. Nutritional information ( per 100 g ) Calories : 673 kcal Carbohydrates : 13.08 g Fats : 68.37 g Fibers : 3.7 g Protein : 13.69 g Cholesterol : 0 mg Pine nut oil Main article : Pine nut oil Pine nuts can be pressed to extract pine nut oil, which is valued for its mild, nutty flavor. One study indicates that Korean pine nut oil may suppress appetite. Other uses Drying of pine nuts Pine nuts have long been a dietary staple in some Native American tribes. Today, though some tribes still use pine nuts in traditional cooking, others use the hard outer shell of the pine nut as a bead for decorative purposes in traditional regalia and jewelry. In the Great Basin area of the US, collecting pine nuts is a protected right through state law and treaty. In the northern California regions, pine nuts are collected from the Grey Pine ( or Bull Pine. ) Tribes burn designs into the hard shell, reflecting the same design they use in baskets, however oftentimes they are left in blank, or burned to blacken. These are more often used in women 's regalia and jewelry. See also Jatjuk -- a Korean porridge prepared using pine nuts List of edible seeds References Jump up ^ Farjon A ( 2005 ). Pines. Drawings and descriptions of the genus Pinus. Koninklijke Brill. ISBN 90 - 04 - 13916 - 8. ^ Jump up to : Lanner RM ( 1981 ). The Piñon Pine. A Natural and Cultural History. University of Nevada Press. ISBN 0 - 87417 - 066 - 4. Jump up ^ Lanner RM ( 1981 ). Made for Each Other. A Symbiosys of Birds and Pines. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0 - 19 - 508903 - 0. Jump up ^ Geisler, Malinda ; Romero, Christina ( August 2015 ). `` Pine Nuts ''. agmrc.org. Retrieved 30 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` History of Pine Nuts & The People of the Great Basin. '' Goods from the Woods. 2004 ( retrieved 8 Dec 2009 ) Jump up ^ Frazier, Penny. `` Pine Nuts, Politics and Public Lands. '' Raw Foods News Magazine. ( retrieved 8 Dec 2009 ) Archived October 30, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Piñon Nut Act, Chapter 25, Article 10, Sections 1 through 5, New Mexico Statutes Annotated, 1978. Retrieved on 25 Jun 2018. Jump up ^ Liston Pine Nuts `` What is the Nevada soft shell pine nut '' ( retrieved 27 November 2014 ) Jump up ^ Pine Nuts, WholeSale. `` Pollination and Seed Development to Maturity in 18 months. '' Pine Nut Information ( retrieved 5 Mar 2010 ) Jump up ^ Pine Nuts, WholeSale. `` The Mature Fruit and Harvesting Process of Pine Nuts. '' Pine Nuts Information ( retrieved 10 Apr 2010 ) Jump up ^ Pine Nuts, WholeSale. `` Elevation and Pinecone Production. '' Ws Pine Nut News ( retrieved 20 Apr 2010 ) Jump up ^ Pine Nuts, WholeSale. `` Pinecone production in regards to Elevation. '' Pinecone Characteristics and Ecology ( retrieved 20 Apr 2010 ) Jump up ^ `` Pine Nut Shelf Life : How Long Do Pine Nuts Last ? ''. Jump up ^ Locally also pinoccoli or pinocchi ; Pinocchio is the Tuscan ( Florentine ) word for `` pine nut '', from Latin * pīnuculus. ( Devoto, Battisti - Alessio ) Jump up ^ `` '' Pine Mouth '' and Consumption of Pine Nuts ``. March 14, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2016. Jump up ^ Mostin, M. ( 2001 ). `` Taste disturbances after pine nut ingestion ''. European Journal of Emergency Medicine. 8 : 76. doi : 10.1097 / 00063110 - 200103000 - 00036. ( Subscription required. ) Jump up ^ `` The Great Pine Nut Mystery ''. June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2016. Jump up ^ Destaillats, Frédéric ; Cruz - Hernandez, Cristina ; Giuffrida, Francesca ; Dionisi, Fabiola ; Mostin, Martine ; Verstegen, Geert ( 2011 ). `` Identification of the Botanical Origin of Commercial Pine Nuts Responsible for Dysgeusia by Gas - Liquid Chromatography Analysis of Fatty Acid Profile '' ( PDF ). Journal of Toxicology. 2011 : 1 -- 7. doi : 10.1155 / 2011 / 316789. PMC 3090612. PMID 21559093. Retrieved January 2, 2016. Jump up ^ Munk, Marc - David ( 2010 ). `` '' Pine Mouth '' Syndrome : Cacogeusia Following Ingestion of Pine Nuts ( Genus : Pinus ). An Emerging Problem ? ``. Journal of Medical Toxicology. 6 ( 2 ) : 158 -- 159. doi : 10.1007 / s13181 - 009 - 0001 - 1. PMC 3550279. PMID 20049580. Jump up ^ Ballin, Nicolai Z. ( Feb 17, 2014 ). `` A Trial Investigating the Symptoms Related to Pine Nut Syndrome ''. Journal of Medical Toxicology. 8 ( 3 ) : 278 -- 280. doi : 10.1007 / s13181 - 012 - 0216 - 4. PMC 3550163. Retrieved January 2, 2016. Jump up ^ Möller, G. ( 2010 ). `` The Curious Case of the Epicurean Nut ''. Food Technology Magazine. 64 ( 5 ). Retrieved January 2, 2016. Jump up ^ Hughes GM, Boyland EJ, Williams NJ, et al. ( 2008 ). `` The effect of Korean pine nut oil ( PinnoThin TM ) on food intake, feeding behaviour and appetite : A double - blind placebo - controlled trial ''. Lipids Health Dis. 7 : 6. doi : 10.1186 / 1476 - 511X - 7 - 6. PMC 2289823. PMID 18307772. Jump up ^ `` Indians 101 : Pine Nuts ''. Jump up ^ `` Our People, Traditional Materials and Designs - Karuk, Yurok, Hupa ''. Further reading Farris, Glenn J. ( 1982 ). `` Pine Nuts as an Aboriginal Food Source in California and Nevada : Some Contrasts ''. Journal of Ethnobiology. 2 ( 2 ) : 114 -- 122. Farris, Glenn J. `` Quality Food : The Quest for Pine Nuts in Northern California. '' In Before the Wilderness : Environmental Management by Native Californians, comp. and ed. T.C. Blackburn, and K. Anderson, 229 - 240. Ballena Press Anthropological Papers, no. 40. Menlo Park, Calif. : Ballena Press, 1993. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pine nuts. Dan Charles ( 2014 - 10 - 08 ). `` Love Pine Nuts ? Then Protect Pine Forests ''. Retrieved 2015 - 04 - 19. Nuts True, or botanical nuts Acorn Beech American beech European beech Breadnut Candlenut Chestnut Sweet chestnut Hazelnut American hazel Beaked hazel European hazel Filbert Asian hazel Johnstone River almond Kola nut Kurrajong Malabar chestnut Mongongo Palm nut Karuka Planted karuka Wild karuka Red bopple nut Yellow walnut Drupes Almond Australian cashew nut Betel nut Borneo tallow nut Breadfruit Cashew Chilean hazel Coconut Durian Gabon nut Hickory Mockernut hickory Pecan Shagbark hickory Shellbark hickory Irvingia gabonensis Jack nut Panda oleosa Pekea nut Pili nut Pistachio Walnut Black walnut Butternut English walnut Heartnut Gymnosperms Cycad Burrawang nut Ginkgo nut Araucaria spp. Bunya nut Monkey - puzzle nut Pine nut Chilgoza pine Colorado pinyon Korean pine Mexican pinyon Single - leaf pinyon Stone pine Angiosperms Brazil nut Macadamia Macadamia nut Queensland macadamia nut Paradise nut Peanut Peanut tree Soybean Non-timber forest products Animal products Furs Honey Pine honey Wild game Berries Tree fruit Blackberry Blueberry Bilberry Breadfruit Cocoa bean Coconut Durian Gambooge Huckleberry Jackfruit Juniper berry Lingonberry Raspberry Tamarind Woodland strawberry Edible plants / roots Betel Fiddlehead ferns Mahuwa flowers Sago palm queen Sassafras filé powder root beer Saw palmetto Wild ginseng Mushrooms Bare - toothed russula Bay bolete Birch bolete Cep Chanterelle Honey mushroom Lingzhi Matsutake Meadow mushroom Morel Oyster mushroom Parasol mushroom Red cap Saffron milk cap Slippery jack Truffle Yellow knight Nuts Spices Allspice Areca nut Bay leaf Black pepper Brazil nut Cinnamon Clove Hazelnut Malva nut Nutmeg Pine nut Vanilla Oil Waxes Carnauba Chaulmoogra ( Hydnocarpus wightiana ) Cocoa butter Eucalyptol Eucalyptus Japan wax Kokum Kusum Mahuwa Nagkesar Palm ( kernel ) Pongamia Phulwara Pilu Sal - seed ( Shorea robusta ) Sandalwood Shea butter Tea - seed Tea - tree Vateria indica Resins Benzoin Birch tar Camphor Creosote Frankincense Gamboge Kauri Lacquer Mastic Myrrh Pine tar Pitch Rosin Turpentine Varnish Sap / Gum / etc. Birch syrup Chicle chewing gum Coconut sugar Date sugar Fruit syrup Gum arabic Gutta - percha Kino Latex Maple sugar Maple syrup Palm sugar Palm wine akpeteshie ogogoro Rubber Spruce gum Other Bamboo edible musical instruments textiles Birch bark Birch beer Cork Ferns Forage Gambier Moss Natural dyes henna Peat Quinine Rattan Shellac Tanbark tannin Thatching Tendu leaves Vegetable ivory Willow bark Related Dehesa ( Iberian agroforestry ) Forest farming / gardening Honey hunting Indian forest produce Mushroom hunting Naval stores Permaforestry Resin extraction Rubber tapping Wildcrafting Commons Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pine_nut&oldid=847570157 '' Categories : Edible nuts and seeds Pinus Plants used in Native American cuisine Hidden categories : Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from July 2011 Webarchive template wayback links Pages containing links to subscription - only content All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2015 All accuracy disputes Articles with disputed statements from January 2012 Commons category with local link different than on Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Català Cebuano Deutsch Diné bizaad Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Kurdî Latina Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Occitan پنجابی Polski Português Русский Simple English سنڌي Suomi Tagalog Türkçe Українська Vèneto 粵語 中文 30 more Edit links This page was last edited on 26 June 2018, at 08 : 54 ( UTC ). 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Question: what is the difference between pine nuts and pinon nuts
Answer: pine nuts from certain species of indigenous New Mexican pines