26th January: Pistachio Day

Today is Pistachio day. Here are some facts about pistacios that you may not know.

1. Pistachio nuts aren't really nuts, although everyone refers to them as such. Botanically, they are seeds.
2. The botanical name for the plant is Pistacia vera, and it is a member of the Cashew family.
3. People have been eating them for a long time. Archaeologists found the remains of these seeds, along with cracking tools, in Israel's Hula Valley, dated to 78,000 years ago.
4. The Queen of Sheba was a big fan, and demanded that the entire region’s pistachio harvest be set aside for her. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were said to have contained pistachio trees during the reign of King Merodach-Baladan about 700 BC.
5. The pistachio is one of only two nuts mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 43:11 if you want to look it up). The other nut mentioned is the almond. In Moslem legend, the pistachio nut was one of the foods brought to Earth by Adam.
6. Iran, the United States and Turkey are the major producers of pistachios. China and the United States are the biggest consumers.
7. In Iran, they are called “smiling nut” and in China, “happy nut”.
8. Sometimes the shells are dyed. Originally this was done to hide stains from hand-picking but since most harvesting is done by machines today, it's not necessary although some people expect it.
9. As the fruit ripens, the shell changes from Green to beige, and when it is ripe, the shell splits open with an audible pop. In the Middle East, where the trees originated, if you happen to be sitting by the tree when this happens and hear the pop, it means good luck.
10. They are good for you. They are a source of protein, fibre, B vitamins, calcium and vitamin E. They also contain potassium and studies have found they can help mitigate the effects of everyday stress.