Apparently, it’s Pistachio Day today so here are some links and background info about it.
Quick facts about pistachios
- Pistachios are part of the cashew family along with mangoes and poison ivy
- Their name derives from the Pistachio tree (the pistachios we eat are actually the seeds)
- Pistachios are Persian in origin (now modern Iran) and remain native in Central Asian countries such as Afghanistan
- Pistachio shells contain urushiol (along with other fruit and seeds from the cashew family), which is an oily resin and irritant that causes allergic reactions
- In China, pistachios are known as the “happy nut”
- In 2023, competitive eater Nick Wehry set a new world record at the Get Crackin’ Wonderful Pistachios Eating Championship by shelling and eating 188 pistachios in 8 minutes (via)
- Pistachios are commonly found in the cuisines of Palestine, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, Syria, and many other countries in the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
- Amongst the top consumers of pistachios are the United States, Germany, Italy, and India (source)