by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: September 16, 2008   Last Updated: September 13, 2010

The pistachio is not technically a  nut, so say the experts; it is a drupe, a fruit that has a pit inside. Whatever it is, it is an important little nut, fruit or whatever. I am glad to be making that statement since the United States is the second largest producer in the world. Not only is this valuable little nut tasty and sought after, it brings in lots of cash.

Its value, however, is in its cholesterol reducing potential. Only after three weeks of making the pistachio nut twenty percent of the daily calories, the cholesterol levels are reduced by twelve percent. To read more of this test search out Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases (Volume 16, pp. 202-209).

Where does the Pistachio tree originate. The United States may be its adopted country, but it must have had its beginnings elsewhere. It does. It is native to Western Asia. The countries range from Syria to the Caucasus region and to Afghanistan. Archeological finds show the remnants of shells, etc dating back to 7,000 BC in Turkey. It has been grown in Italy since I Ad, introduced there by Syria.

It came to the United States in 1854 and was grown at first in California. Yet, commercially, it made no big splash until the latter part of the seventies. In the San Joaquin Valley it is successfully grown commercially. Outside this region it is grown in Iran, Turkey, and somewhat in Syria, India, Greece and Pakistan. 

the pistachio is distantly related to the Cashew, the Mango and other drupes. Only certain areas can grow the tree successfully. Apparently it has found a perfect climate in the San Joaquin Valley. It needs hot summers and cool winters and does not mind the heat. In fact it requires it; olives and almonds share about the same temperature needs. Certainly it has adapted well to dry California climate and other areas in the southwest.

The trees age well. If the conditions are right, these trees can live for centuries; growing to about thirty feet, and may divide into two or three trunks. Naturally, they are in appearance somewhat droopy and sprawling and often needs stakes to hold up heavily laden branches. That's fine since they are attractive and not only offer valuable food but are an attractive ornamental.

They do not grow well in containers, however. They are do need separate male and female trees if they are to produce fruit; or a grafted male branch onto a female branch will solve the pollination problem. While growing these wrinkled little fruits grow somewhat like grapes. While this nut is actually a fruit, the different being the edible part of this fruit is the seed; thus their nut distinction. The bony little shells are quite attractive. The fruit inside is yellowish to green and the greener supposedly the better the oily fruits.

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