A culinary nut is a dry, edible fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering.
Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...
or seed
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...
that usually, but not always, has a high fat
In nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food.
The term often refers specifically to triglycerides (triple est ...
content. Nuts are used in a wide variety of edible roles, including in baking, as snacks (either roasted or raw), and as flavoring. In addition to botanical nuts, fruits and seeds that have a similar appearance and culinary role are considered to be culinary nuts. Culinary nuts are divided into fruits or seeds in one of four categories:
* True, or
botanical nuts: dry, hard-shelled, uncompartmented fruit that do not split on maturity to release seeds; (e.g.
hazelnuts)
*
Drupes: seed contained within a pit (stone or
pyrena) that itself is surrounded by a fleshy fruit (e.g.
almonds,
walnut
A walnut is the edible seed of a drupe of any tree of the genus ''Juglans'' (family Juglandaceae), particularly the Persian or English walnut, '' Juglans regia''.
Although culinarily considered a "nut" and used as such, it is not a true ...
s);
*
Gymnosperm
The gymnosperms ( lit. revealed seeds) are a group of seed-producing plants that includes conifers, cycads, '' Ginkgo'', and gnetophytes, forming the clade Gymnospermae. The term ''gymnosperm'' comes from the composite word in el, γυμν ...
seeds: naked seeds, with no enclosure (e.g.
pine nut
Pine nuts, also called piñón (), pinoli (), pignoli or chilgoza (), are the edible seeds of pines (family Pinaceae, genus ''Pinus''). According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, only 29 species provide edible nuts, while 20 are trad ...
s);
*
Angiosperm: seeds surrounded by an enclosure, such as a pod or a fruit (e.g.
peanut
The peanut (''Arachis hypogaea''), also known as the groundnut, goober (US), pindar (US) or monkey nut (UK), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics, important to both small and ...
s).
Nuts have a rich history as food. For many
indigenous peoples of the Americas
The Indigenous peoples of the Americas are the inhabitants of the Americas before the arrival of the European settlers in the 15th century, and the ethnic groups who now identify themselves with those peoples.
Many Indigenous peoples of the A ...
, a wide variety of nuts, including
acorns,
American beech, and others, served as a major source of
starch and fat over thousands of years. Similarly, a wide variety of nuts have served as food for
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples ...
for many centuries.
Other culinary nuts, though known from ancient times, have seen dramatic increases in use in modern times. The most striking such example is the peanut. Its usage was popularized by the work of
George Washington Carver, who discovered and popularized many applications of the peanut after employing peanut plants for soil amelioration in fields used to grow cotton.
True nuts
![Kolanut](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Kolanut.jpg)
The following are both culinary and botanical nuts.
*
Acorn (''
Quercus
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ...
'', ''
Lithocarpus'' and ''
Cyclobalanopsis
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ...
''
spp.
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate se ...
), used from ancient times among
indigenous peoples of the Americas
The Indigenous peoples of the Americas are the inhabitants of the Americas before the arrival of the European settlers in the 15th century, and the ethnic groups who now identify themselves with those peoples.
Many Indigenous peoples of the A ...
as a
staple food, in particular for making bread and
porridge.
*
Beech (''Fagus'' spp.)
**
American beech (''Fagus grandifolia''), used by
indigenous peoples of the Americas
The Indigenous peoples of the Americas are the inhabitants of the Americas before the arrival of the European settlers in the 15th century, and the ethnic groups who now identify themselves with those peoples.
Many Indigenous peoples of the A ...
as food. Several tribes sought stores of beech nuts gathered by
chipmunk
Chipmunks are small, striped rodents of the family Sciuridae. Chipmunks are found in North America, with the exception of the Siberian chipmunk which is found primarily in Asia.
Taxonomy and systematics
Chipmunks may be classified either as ...
s and
deer mice
Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the reindee ...
, thus obtaining nuts that were already sorted and shelled.
**
European beech
''Fagus sylvatica'', the European beech or common beech is a deciduous tree belonging to the beech family Fagaceae.
Description
''Fagus sylvatica'' is a large tree, capable of reaching heights of up to tall and trunk diameter, though more ...
(''Fagus sylvatica''), although edible, have never been popular as a source of food. They have been used as animal feed and to extract a popular edible oil.
*
Breadnut (''Brosimum alicastrum''), used by the ancient
Maya peoples as
animal fodder
Fodder (), also called provender (), is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, such as cattle, rabbits, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. "Fodder" refers particularly to food given to the animals (includi ...
, and as an alternative food when yield of other crops was insufficient.
*
Candlenut
''Aleurites moluccanus'', the candlenut, is a flowering tree in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, also known as candleberry, Indian walnut, ''kemiri'', varnish tree, ''nuez de la India'', ''buah keras'', ''godou'', kukui nut tree, and ''rata k ...
(''Aleurites moluccana''), used in many
South East Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...
n cuisines.
*
Chestnuts
The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.
The unrelated ...
(''
Castanea'' spp.)
**
Chinese chestnuts (''Castanea mollissima''), have been eaten in China since ancient times.
**
Sweet chestnuts (''Castanea sativa''), unlike most nuts, are high in starch and sugar. Extensively grown in
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
and the
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 10 ...
.
** (Note: the
water chestnut is not a nut at all; it is a
tuber
Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growin ...
)
*
Guinea peanut (''Pachira glabra''), like those of the related Malabar chestnut, the seeds taste similar to peanuts
["''Pachira glabra'' Pasq."](_blank)
at Plant Biodiversity Conservatory and Research Core of University of Connecticut. Retrieved 10 May 2020. and are typically boiled or roasted, with the roasted seeds sometimes ground to make a hot drink.
*
Hazelnuts
The hazelnut is the fruit of the hazel tree and therefore includes any of the nuts deriving from species of the genus ''Corylus'', especially the nuts of the species ''Corylus avellana''. They are also known as cobnuts or filberts according ...
(''
Corylus
The hazel (''Corylus'') is a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae,Germplasmgobills Information Network''Corylus''Rushforth, K. (1999). ...
'' spp.), most commercial varieties of which descend from the European hazelnut (''Corylus avellana'').
Hazelnuts are used to make
pralines, in the popular
Nutella
Nutella (; ; ) is a brand of sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread. Nutella is manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero and was first introduced in 1964, although its first iteration dates to 1963.
History
Pietro Ferrero owned a bakery in Alba, ...
spread, in
liqueurs, and in many other foods.
**
American hazelnut (''Corylus americana''), appealing for breeding because of its relative hardiness.
** Deeknut (''Corylus dikana''), grows in hot, excessively dry areas. An occasional garnish used in Middle Eastern dishes.
**
Eastern and western beaked hazel (''Corylus cornuta''), native to the United States.
**
European hazelnut (''Corylus avellana''), source of most commercial hazelnuts.
**
Filbert (''Corylus maxima''), commonly used as "filler" in mixed nut combinations.
** Several other species are edible, but not commercially cultivated to any significant extent. These include the
cold-tolerant Siberia
Siberia ( ; rus, Сибирь, r=Sibir', p=sʲɪˈbʲirʲ, a=Ru-Сибирь.ogg) is an extensive region, geographical region, constituting all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has been a ...
n hazelnut (''
C. heterophylla''), ''
C. kweichowensis'', which grows in the warmer parts of
China, ''
C. sieboldiana'', which grows in
Japan and China, and other minor ''Corylus'' species.
*
Johnstone River almond (''Elaeocarpus bancroftii''), prized food among northern
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples ...
.
*
Karuka
The karuka (''Pandanus julianettii'', also called karuka nut and ''Pandanus'' nut) is a species of tree in the family Pandanaceae and an important regional food crop in New Guinea. The nuts are more nutritious than coconuts, and are so popul ...
(''Pandanus'' spp.), native to
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
. Both the planted and wild species are eaten raw, roasted or boiled, providing food security when other foods are less available.
**
Planted karuka (''Pandanus julianettii''), cultivated species, planted by roughly half the rural population of Papua New Guinea.
**
Wild karuka (''Pandanus brosimos''), important food source in villages at higher altitudes in
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...
.
*
Kola nut (''
Cola
Cola is a carbonated soft drink flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, citrus oils and other flavorings. Cola became popular worldwide after the American pharmacist John Stith Pemberton invented Coca-Cola, a trademarked brand, in 1886, which was imi ...
'' spp.), from a
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, M ...
n relative of the
cocoa tree, is the origin of the cola flavor in soft drinks.
*
Kurrajong (''
Brachychiton'' spp.), native to
Australia, highly regarded as a
bush food
Bush tucker, also called bush food, is any food native to Australia and used as sustenance by Indigenous Australians, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but it can also describe any native flora or fauna used for culinary or ...
among northern
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples ...
.
*
Malabar chestnut (''Pachira aquatica''), have a taste reminiscent of peanuts when raw, and of cashews or European chestnuts (which they strongly resemble) when roasted.
*
Mongongo (''Ricinodendron rautanenii''), abundant source of protein among
Bushmen in the
Kalahari desert
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savanna in Southern Africa extending for , covering much of Botswana, and parts of Namibia and South Africa.
It is not to be confused with the Angolan, Namibian, and South African Namib coastal d ...
. Also of interest as a source of oil for skin care.
*
Palm nuts (''Elaeis guineensis''), important
famine food
A famine food or poverty food is any inexpensive or readily available food used to nourish people in times of hunger and starvation, whether caused by extreme poverty, such as during economic depression or war, or by natural disasters such ...
among the
Himba people
The Himba (singular: OmuHimba, plural: OvaHimba) are an indigenous people with an estimated population of about 50,000 people living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene Region (formerly Kaokoland) and on the other side of the Kunene River in sout ...
in Africa.
*
Red bopple nut (''Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia''), native to the east coast of
Australia. Low in fat, high in
calcium
Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar t ...
and
potassium
Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K (from Neo-Latin ''kalium'') and atomic number19. Potassium is a silvery-white metal that is soft enough to be cut with a knife with little force. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmosph ...
. Eaten as
bush food
Bush tucker, also called bush food, is any food native to Australia and used as sustenance by Indigenous Australians, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but it can also describe any native flora or fauna used for culinary or ...
. Considered similar, but inferior to the
macadamia
''Macadamia'' is a genus of four species of trees in the flowering plant family Proteaceae. They are indigenous to Australia, native to northeastern New South Wales and central and southeastern Queensland specifically. Two species of the genus ...
.
*
Yellow walnut (''Beilschmiedia bancroftii''), native to
Australia where it served as a
staple food among Indigenous Australians.
Drupe seeds
A
drupe is a fleshy fruit surrounding a stone, or pit, containing a seed. Some of these seeds are culinary nuts as well.
![Smoked almonds](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Smoked_almonds.JPG)
*
Almonds (''
Prunus dulcis
The almond (''Prunus amygdalus'', syn. ''Prunus dulcis'') is a species of tree native to Iran and surrounding countries, including the Levant. The almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Within the genus ...
'') have a long and important history of religious, social and cultural significance as a food. Speculated to have originated as a natural hybrid in
Central Asia
Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...
, almonds spread throughout the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...
in ancient times and thence to
Eurasia
Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelago ...
. The almond is one of only two nuts mentioned in the
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts ...
.
*
Apricot kernels are sometimes used as an almond substitute, an Apricot seed derived ''ersatz''-Marzipan is known as "Persipan" in German and is extensively used in foods like
Stollen.
*
Australian cashew nut (''Semecarpus australiensis'') is a source of food for Indigenous Australians of north-eastern
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, establishe ...
and Australia's
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory shares its borders with Western Aust ...
.
*
Baru nut (''Dipteryx alata)'' is a source of food for indigenous Afro-Brazilian communities living in the Brazilian Cerrado. The nut is eaten toasted or boiled.
*
Betel or ''areca nuts'' (''Areca catechu'') are chewed in many cultures as a psychoactive drug. They are also used in Indian cuisine to make sweet after-dinner treats () and breath-fresheners ().
*
Borneo tallow nuts (''
Shorea
Fruit of a ''Shorea'' species
''Shorea'' is a genus of about 196 species of mainly rainforest trees in the family Dipterocarpaceae. The genus is named after Sir John Shore, the governor-general of the British East India Company, 1793–1798. T ...
'' spp.) are grown in the tropical rain forests of
South East Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...
, as a source of edible oil.
*''
Canarium'' spp.
**
Canarium nut (''Canarium harveyi'', ''Canarium indicum'', or ''Canarium commune'') has long been an important food source in
Melanesia
Melanesia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It extends from Indonesia's New Guinea in the west to Fiji in the east, and includes the Arafura Sea.
The region includes the four independent countries of Fiji, Va ...
.
**
Chinese olive (''Canarium album'') pits are processed before use as an ingredient in Chinese cooking.
**
Pili nut
''Canarium ovatum'', the pili (Central Bikol and Filipino: ''pili'', ;), is a species of tropical tree belonging to the genus ''Canarium''. It is one of approximately 600 species in the family Burseraceae. ''C. ovatum'' are native to the P ...
s (''Canarium ovatum'') are native to the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
, where they have been cultivated for food from ancient times.
*
Cashews (''Anacardium occidentale'') grow as a drupe that is attached to the
cashew apple, the fruit of the
cashew tree. Native to northeastern
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
, the cashew was introduced to
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
and
East Africa in the sixteenth century, where they remain a major commercial crop. The nut must be roasted (or steamed) to remove the caustic shell oil before being consumed.
*
Chilean hazel (''Gevuina avellana''), from an evergreen native to
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
, similar in appearance and taste to the
hazelnut.
*
Coconut (''Cocos nucifera''), used worldwide as a food. The fleshy part of the seed is edible, and used either desiccated or fresh as an ingredient in many foods. The
pressed oil from the coconut is used in cooking as well.
*
Gabon nut (''Coula edulis'') has a taste comparable to hazelnut or chestnut. It is eaten raw, grilled or boiled.
*
Hickory (''
Carya
Hickory is a common name for trees composing the genus ''Carya'', which includes around 18 species. Five or six species are native to China, Indochina, and India (Assam), as many as twelve are native to the United States, four are found in Mexi ...
'' spp.)
**
Mockernut hickory
''Carya tomentosa'', (mockernut hickory, mockernut, white hickory, whiteheart hickory, hognut, bullnut) is a tree in the Juglandaceae or walnut family. The most abundant of the hickories, common in the eastern half of the US, it is long lived, ...
(''Carya tomentosa''), named after the heavy hammer (' in
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
) required to crack the heavy shell and remove the tasty nutmeat.
**
Pecan
The pecan (''Carya illinoinensis'') is a species of hickory native to the southern United States and northern Mexico in the region of the Mississippi River. The tree is cultivated for its seed in the southern United States, primarily in Georgia, ...
s (''Carya illinoinensis'') are the only major commercial nut tree native to North America. Pecans are eaten as a snack food, and used as an ingredient in baking and other food preparation.
**
Shagbark hickory (''Carya ovata'') has over 130 named
cultivar
A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...
s. They are a valuable source of food for wildlife, and were eaten by indigenous peoples of the Americas and settlers alike.
**
Shellbark hickory (''Carya laciniosa'') nuts are sweet, and are the largest of the hickories. They are also eaten by a wide variety of wildlife.
* ''
Irvingia
''Irvingia'' is a genus of African and Southeast Asian trees in the family Irvingiaceae, sometimes known by the common names wild mango, African mango, bush mango, dika, mbukpap uyo or ogbono. They bear edible mango-like fruits, and are espe ...
'' spp. are native to Africa
** Bush mango (''
Irvingia gabonensis'') has both edible fruit and an edible nut, which is used as a
thickening agent
A thickening agent or thickener is a substance which can increase the viscosity of a liquid without substantially changing its other properties. Edible thickeners are commonly used to thicken sauces, soups, and puddings without altering the ...
in stews and soups in West African cuisines.
**
Ogbono nut (''Irvingia wombolu'') is similar to the bush mango, but the fruit is not edible.
*
Jack nuts (''Artocarpus heterophyllus'') are the seeds of the jack fruit. With a taste like
chestnuts, they have an extremely low fat content of less than 1%.
*
Jelly Palm Nut (''Butia capitata''), sweet edible fruit, and edible nut.
*
Bread Nuts (''Artocarpus camansi'') similarly have a chesnut taste and very low fat content
*
''Panda oleosa'' is used in
Gabon
Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the nort ...
in a similar way to bush mango nuts, as well as to extract an edible oil.
*
Pekea nut, or butter-nut of
Guiana (''Caryocar nuciferum''), harvested locally for its highly prized edible oil.
*
Pistachio (''Pistacia vera'' L.), cultivated for thousands of years, native to
West Asia
Western Asia, West Asia, or Southwest Asia, is the westernmost subregion of the larger geographical region of Asia, as defined by some academics, UN bodies and other institutions. It is almost entirely a part of the Middle East, and includes Ana ...
. It is one of only two nuts mentioned in the Bible.
*
Walnut
A walnut is the edible seed of a drupe of any tree of the genus ''Juglans'' (family Juglandaceae), particularly the Persian or English walnut, '' Juglans regia''.
Although culinarily considered a "nut" and used as such, it is not a true ...
(''Juglans'' spp.)
**
Black walnut (''Juglans nigra''), also popular as food for wildlife, with an appealing, distinctive flavor. Native of North America.
**
Butternut (''Juglans cinerea'') (or white walnut) is native to North America. Used extensively, in the past, by Native American tribes as food.
**
English walnut (''Juglans regia'') (or Persian walnut) was introduced to
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
around 1770. California now represents 99% of US walnut growth. It is often combined with salads, vegetables, fruits or desserts because of its distinctive taste.
**
Heartnut, or Japanese walnut (''Juglans aitlanthifolia''), native to
Japan, with a characteristic
cordate
Cordate is an adjective meaning ' heart-shaped' and is most typically used for:
* Cordate (leaf shape)
The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a ...
shape. Heartnuts are often toasted or baked, and can be used as a substitute for English walnuts.
Nut-like gymnosperm seeds
![KoreanPineSeeds](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/KoreanPineSeeds.jpg)
A
gymnosperm
The gymnosperms ( lit. revealed seeds) are a group of seed-producing plants that includes conifers, cycads, '' Ginkgo'', and gnetophytes, forming the clade Gymnospermae. The term ''gymnosperm'' comes from the composite word in el, γυμν ...
, from the
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
' (), meaning "naked seed", is a seed that does not have an enclosure. The following gymnosperms are culinary nuts. All but the ginkgo nut are from
evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...
s.
*
Cycad
Cycads are seed plants that typically have a stout and woody (ligneous) trunk with a crown of large, hard, stiff, evergreen and (usually) pinnate leaves. The species are dioecious, that is, individual plants of a species are either male o ...
s (''
Macrozamia
''Macrozamia'' is a genus of around forty species of cycads, family Zamiaceae, all of which are endemic to Australia. Many parts of the plant have been utilised for food and material, most of which is toxic if not processed correctly.
Descript ...
'' spp.)
**
Burrawang nut (''Macrozamia communis''), a major source of starch for Indigenous Australians around
Sydney.
*
Ginkgo nuts
''Ginkgo biloba'', commonly known as ginkgo or gingko ( ), also known as the maidenhair tree, is a species of tree native to China. It is the last living species in the order Ginkgoales, which first appeared over 290 million years ago. Fossils ...
(''Ginkgo biloba'') are a common ingredient in Chinese cooking. They are starchy, low in fat, protein and calories, but high in
vitamin C
Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, also sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical 'serum' ingredient to treat melasma (dark pigment spots) ...
.
* ''
Araucaria'' spp.
**
Bunya nut
''Araucaria bidwillii'', commonly known as the bunya pine and sometimes referred to as the false monkey puzzle tree, is a large evergreen coniferous tree in the plant family Araucariaceae. It is found naturally in south-east Queensland Austral ...
(''Araucaria bidwillii'') is native to
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, establishe ...
,
Australia. Nuts are the size of walnuts, and rich in starch.
**
Monkey-puzzle nut (''Araucaria araucana'') has nuts twice the size of almonds. Rich in starch. Roasted, boiled, eaten raw, or fermented in Chile and Argentina.
**
Paraná pine nut (''Araucaria angustifolia'') (or Brazil pine nut) is an edible seed similar to pine nuts.
*
Pine nut
Pine nuts, also called piñón (), pinoli (), pignoli or chilgoza (), are the edible seeds of pines (family Pinaceae, genus ''Pinus''). According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, only 29 species provide edible nuts, while 20 are trad ...
s (''
Pinus
A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden ...
'' spp.) Pine nuts can be toasted and added to salads and are used as an ingredient in
pesto
Pesto () is a sauce that traditionally consists of crushed garlic, European pine nuts, coarse salt, basil leaves, and hard cheese such as Parmigiano-Reggiano (also known as Parmesan cheese) or Pecorino Sardo (cheese made from sheep's milk), a ...
, among other regional uses.
**
Chilgoza pine (''Pinus gerardiana''), common in
Central Asia
Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...
. Nuts are used raw, roasted or in
confectionery products.
**
Colorado pinyon
''Pinus edulis'', the Colorado pinyon, two-needle piñon, pinyon pine, or simply piñon, is a pine in the pinyon pine group whose ancestor was a member of the Madro-Tertiary Geoflora (a group of drought resistant trees) and is native to the Unite ...
(''Pinus edulis''), in great demand as an edible nut, with average annual production of 454 to 900 tonnes.
**
Korean pine
''Pinus koraiensis'' is a species of pine known commonly as the Korean pine. It is native to eastern Asia: Korea, northeastern China, Mongolia, the temperate rainforests of the Russian Far East, and central Japan. In the north of its range, it g ...
(''Pinus koraiensis''), a pine-nut yielding species native to Asia.
**
Mexican pinyon
''Pinus cembroides'', also known as pinyon pine, Mexican pinyon, Mexican nut pine, and Mexican stone pine, is a pine in the pinyon pine group, native to western North America. It grows in areas with low levels of rainfall and its range extends so ...
(''Pinus cembroides''), found in Mexico and Arizona. Nuts are eaten raw, roasted, or made into flour.
**
Single-leaf pinyon
''Pinus monophylla'', the single-leaf pinyon, (alternatively spelled piñon) is a pine in the pinyon pine group, native to North America. The range is in southernmost Idaho, western Utah, Arizona, southwest New Mexico, Nevada, eastern and southe ...
(''Pinus monophylla'') grows in foothills from Mexico to Idaho. Eaten as other pine nuts. Also sometimes ground and made into pancakes.
**
Stone pine, or ''pignolia nut'' (''Pinus pinea'') is the most commercially important pine nut.
Nut-like angiosperm seeds
![Macadamia nut](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Macadamia_nut.jpg)
These culinary nuts are seeds contained within a larger fruit, and are
flowering plants
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
.
*
Brazil nut
The Brazil nut (''Bertholletia excelsa'') is a South American tree in the family Lecythidaceae, and it is also the name of the tree's commercially harvested edible seeds. It is one of the largest and longest-lived trees in the Amazon rainforest. ...
s (''Bertholletia excelsa'') are harvested from an estimated 250,000–400,000 trees per year. Highly valued edible nut used in the
confectionery and baking trades.
Excellent dietary source of
selenium
Selenium is a chemical element with the symbol Se and atomic number 34. It is a nonmetal (more rarely considered a metalloid) with properties that are intermediate between the elements above and below in the periodic table, sulfur and tellurium, ...
.
*
Macadamia
''Macadamia'' is a genus of four species of trees in the flowering plant family Proteaceae. They are indigenous to Australia, native to northeastern New South Wales and central and southeastern Queensland specifically. Two species of the genus ...
(''Macadamia'' spp.) are primarily produced in
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...
and
Australia. Both species are native to
Australia. They are a highly valued edible nut. Waste nuts are commonly used to extract an edible oil.
**
Macadamia nut
''Macadamia'' is a genus of four species of trees in the flowering plant family Proteaceae. They are indigenous to Australia, native to northeastern New South Wales and central and southeastern Queensland specifically. Two species of the genus ...
(''Macadamia tetraphylla'') has a rough shell, and is the subject of some commercialization.
**
Queensland macadamia nut (''Macadamia integrifolia'') has a smooth shell, and is the principal commercial macadamia nut.
*
Paradise nut (''Lecythis usitata''), native to the
Amazon rain forest
The Amazon rainforest, Amazon jungle or ; es, Selva amazónica, , or usually ; french: Forêt amazonienne; nl, Amazoneregenwoud. In English, the names are sometimes capitalized further, as Amazon Rainforest, Amazon Forest, or Amazon Jungle. ...
, highly regarded by indigenous tribal people.
*
Peanut
The peanut (''Arachis hypogaea''), also known as the groundnut, goober (US), pindar (US) or monkey nut (UK), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics, important to both small and ...
, or groundnut (''Arachis hypogaea''), originally from South America, has grown from a relatively minor crop to one of the most important commercial nut crops, in part due to the work of
George Washington Carver at the beginning of the 20th century.
*
Peanut tree (''Sterculia quadrifida'') or bush peanut, native to Australia. Requires no preparation.
[Not to be confused with peanuts (groundnuts).]
*
Soybean
The soybean, soy bean, or soya bean (''Glycine max'') is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean, which has numerous uses.
Traditional unfermented food uses of soybeans include soy milk, from which tofu a ...
s (''Glycine max'') are used as a nut, in addition to their use as
oil seed
Vegetable oils, or vegetable fats, are oils extracted from seeds or from other parts of fruits. Like animal fats, vegetable fats are ''mixtures'' of triglycerides. Soybean oil, grape seed oil, and cocoa butter are examples of seed oils, or f ...
s.
See also
*
List of edible seeds
*
Tiger nut
''Cyperus esculentus'' (also called chufa, tiger nut, atadwe, yellow nutsedge, and earth almond) is a species of plant in the sedge family widespread across much of the world. It is found in most of the Eastern Hemisphere, including Southern Eur ...
(not a nut, despite its name)
Notes
References
Works cited
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{{featured list
Culinary nuts
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