Pinia nuts

Pinia nuts are seeds of the same name pine from Italy, which are contained in cones located on branches in the form of brushes of 1-3 pieces. Interestingly, pinia nuts fully ripen only for 3 years of cone growth in mid-autumn, and in early spring they fall out. In this regard, the harvest of pinia nuts falls on the end of October - the beginning of November.

Pinia nuts are distinguished by an oblong oval shape and a dark brown shell with small light spots. By size, these nuts are no more than
1. 7 centimeters. It is worth saying that the shells of pinia nuts are much stronger than those of pine seeds, due to which they need to be shelled using walnut by hand or in industry on a conveyor with closely spaced rollers.

To taste, pinia nuts are characterized by a delicate consistency and a resinous taste, very similar to Siberian pine nuts. By the way, among pine plants, pinia nuts are called the largest seeds suitable for food. Adult tree yields can range from 3-8 tons of pinia nuts per hectare. In general, Italian pine lives for more than five centuries and at the same time actively bears fruit.

The distribution range of wild pinia is the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the Iberian Peninsula and Asia Minor. This pine is cultivated in the Caucasus and Crimea. Spain, Portugal, Italy, Tunisia and Turkey are recognized as the main global exporters of pinia nuts.

When purchasing pinia nuts, it is recommended to pay attention to unclean seeds, since they can be stored for a long time without losing their properties. In turn, peeled pinia nuts are stored for a little over two weeks, after which the fats in their composition begin to oxidize and rancid, while the fruits themselves absorb foreign odors. To prolong the freshness of the peeled pinia nuts, you need to store them in the freezer.

Pinia nuts are widely used in national cuisines in Italy and France, where they are added to classic sauces and confectionery. In addition, pinia nuts can act as a savoury spice for red meat.

The vitamin-mineral composition of these small nuts determines their beneficial properties, which consist in their ability to heal gastric ulcers, as well as normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract. In powdered form, pinia nuts can be used to heal wounds. In addition, pinia nuts help with chronic fatigue, which is caused by active mental activity, skin diseases, reduced immunity, heart ailments and allergies.