

Native to North America, the pecan tree belongs to the same family as English and black walnuts and hickory nuts. Considered a gourmet nut, whole macadamias are sold salted in glass jars or used in cookies and candies. Tetraphylla, the “rough shelled” species, is less tolerant of extreme temperatures but produces a sweeter tasting nut. Also known as the “smooth shell” species, the integrifolia is grown in Hawaii and produces a round, small nut with high oil content-a characteristic that makes it better for roasting and salting. Two primary species, Macadamia integrifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla, are both native to Australia. Though found in tropical and subtropical countries across the world, the round nuts are only commercially produced in Australia and Hawaii. Macadamia nuts originated in Australia in the mid-1800s and were later introduced to Hawaii in 1881. The only tree nut produced commercially in Oregon, hazelnuts are an important crop and frequently featured in confections such as chocolate truffles, cookies, pralines, and chocolate hazelnut spreads.Ī popular part of the snack food industry, hazelnuts are sold whole, diced, ground, unshelled, or as a paste or oil. The United States ranks third in production after Turkey and Italy.Īlthough a small portion of hazelnuts are grown in Washington State, Oregon is responsible for nearly all U.S. This area is still the center of production, with Turkey producing more than half of the world’s hazelnuts. Because cashews are in the same family as poison ivy, the raw nut shells and the resin they excrete can cause dermatitis.Īlso called filberts, hazelnuts originated from the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions in Turkey, Italy, and Spain. Like all tree nuts, cashews are nutrient dense foods with ample protein but also fat. Today, India and Vietnam lead the world in cashew production.Īlthough the cashew apple is used in beverages, jams, and jellies, the seed is the most consumed element of the plant, often eaten on its own or processed into cashew butter. Native to Brazil, cashews were originally exported by Portuguese missionaries to East Africa and India during the sixteenth century. The curve-shaped “nut” sprouts from the plant’s drupe, referred to as the cashew apple. For this reason, it is recommended consumers eat just a few nuts per day.Ĭashews ( anacardium occidentale) are the fruit of tropical evergreen trees. However, people who regularly eat too many Brazil nuts can suffer from selenium poisoning. Generally eaten raw, Brazil nuts are a good source of protein, magnesium, and Vitamin E, and rich in selenium, a powerful antioxidant. Most Brazil nuts are produced in Bolivia, followed by Peru and Brazil. Growing up to 160 feet high with a trunk diameter of 3 to 6 feet wide, the Brazil nut is the largest tree in the Amazon forest. The product may be further processed through blanching, dry roasting, chopping, or converted into a paste called marzipan (a confection made from honey, sugar, and almond meal).īrazil nuts grow on the Bertholletia excelsa tree native to the South American Amazon forest. Although almonds are sometimes sold in-shell, they are more often shelled during processing. There are several varieties of almonds including Mission, Nonpareil, Price, Butte, and Padre.Īs the nut forms on the tree, it is enclosed in a sturdy hull and inner hard shell. state that grows almonds commercially, and most production is exported across the globe.
