The History of Pine Nuts

Pine nuts are not nuts at all, but are in fact the seeds found in pinecones produced by certain varieties of pine trees. They have been consumed by humans as far back as the Paleolithic period. There are roughly 20 varieties of pine trees that produce seeds that are large enough to harvest and eat. The four most common are the Mexican pinyon (Pinus cembroides), the Colorado pinion (Pinus edulis), the Italian or Mediterranean stone pine (Pinus pinea), and Chinese nut pine (Pinus armandii). Some of the largest pine nut exporters in the world include China, Mongolia, Russia, South Korea, and Afghanistan. Many pine nuts are also produced and harvested in the United States. In some areas of the country, there are laws in place to govern harvesting, many of which specifically ensure the harvesting rights of Native American tribes. Notably, pine nuts are only found in certain varieties of pinecones and pine trees take about 25 years to begin producing edible seeds. Most pine nuts are also typically harvested by hand, which is why they are so expensive. Today, pine nuts are eaten in many parts of the world and used to make both savory and sweet dishes, but are perhaps most famously used in Italian pesto.