and sweet preparations, and pressed to make
oil. In Korea, pine pollen is used to make
sweets, and Romanians flavor game sauces
with the green cones.
Pistachios Pistachios are the seeds of a native
of arid western Asia and the Middle East,
Pistacia vera, a relative of the cashew and the
mango. Along with almonds, they have been
found at the sites of Middle Eastern
settlements dating to 7000 BCE. A close
relative, Pistacia lentiscus, provides the
aromatic gum called mastic (p. 421).
Pistachios first became a prominent nut in
America in the 1880s, thanks to their
popularity among immigrants in New York
City. Iran, Turkey, and California are the
major producers today.
Pistachios grow in clusters, with a thin,
tannin-rich hull around the inner shell and
kernel. As the seeds mature, the outer hull
turns purple-red and the expanding kernel