Pistachios

Pistachios are tasty green nuts that come from pistachio trees. They have a hard, cream-colored shell that splits open when the nut is ripe. Inside, the nut is bright green and sometimes a little purple. Pistachios taste slightly sweet and buttery, and they are a favorite snack around the world.

Pistachio Trees

Pistachio trees first grew in the Middle East, where people have eaten them for thousands of years. They are small trees that grow best in hot, dry places. Today, Iran, the United States, and Turkey grow the most pistachios. The trees only make lots of nuts every other year. It takes about 7 to 10 years before a new pistachio tree starts making nuts.

Eating Pistachios

People love pistachios as a snack because they are fun to crack open. Roasted and salted pistachios are the most common kind. Pistachios are also used to flavor ice cream, cakes, and cookies. In the Middle East, they go into a sweet dessert called baklava. Pistachios have lots of protein, fiber, and healthy fats that make them a great choice for your body.

Fun Facts

• Pistachios are sometimes called 'the smiling nut' because their shells open up like a smile.
• In China, pistachios are known as 'the happy nut'.
• The green color of pistachios comes from chlorophyll, the same thing that makes leaves green.

Did You Know?

The Queen of Sheba loved pistachios so much that she demanded all of them grown in her country be saved just for her.