pistachio

The pistachio (Pistacia Vera or Anacardiaceae) is a small bushy tree up to a few meters tall. It is native to the mountainous regions of Iran, Turkmenistan and western Afghanistan. It was first cultivated in western Asia; then carried to the Mediterranean and more recently – to California and Australia.

The pistachio tree is cold-resistant but its fruits ripen only in hot weather. The fruit is a drupe, containing an elongated seed with a kernel and a shell. When the fruit ripens, it dries up and its shell split partially opens.

Pistachio nuts are healthy because they are rich in vitamins, oil and other nutritious substances. The kernels are often eaten whole, either fresh or roasted and salted, and also are widely used in the confectionary industry.