Pistachios

Imagine a miraculously green orchard in the middle of a dry desert where the trees are loaded with jewel bright fruit. During Iran’s long hot summers, these ancient trees bear pistachios.

Known for their lovely green colour and distinctive taste, pistachio nuts are widely enjoyed today, but the secret for the best pistachios in the world lies within the earth itself.
Iran’s unique climate allows these sturdy trees to experience shocking temperatures as low as-10 C and as high as +48, and together with the yet unknown qualities of the land, these orchards produce the best, most authentic, highest quality pistachios available in global markets. These Persian pistachios are indeed so famous and so widely sought after that cultivators around the world have been trying (and failing) to reproduce these crops for centuries.

The unique nature of these particular Persian pistachios ensures that, unlike similar kinds, they can easily withstand the higher temperatures required for the roasting process.
Therefore, while a lesser pistachio crop would burn and smoke and disintegrate in the heat of the roasting furnace, our pistachios move through an intricate process where the sugar inside the nut is slowly caramelized, turning each kernel into the most flavorful, crunchy little gastronomic gift from heaven.

These high protein kernels are a great source of nutrition for everybody but specially for vegetarians and vegans and they can help prevent heart disease and improve gut health but let us not forget about their wonderful taste.

Pistachios can be used to crust fillets of chicken or salmon, to top a salad or to flavor a cake. Roasted pistachios can be ground into the most unique pesto. They can be turned into gelatos, biscottis or added to trail-mix or star in the gorgeous bright green pistachio baklava. Sounds divine doesn’t it?
But there’s more.
Iran’s agricultural treasures don’t end with pistachios. We are also proud to have produced the purest saffron in the world for thousands of years. Vivid crimson strands are handpicked from amethyst colored flowers, and then dried and ground to yield the most beautiful shade of gold and an enticing aroma to rice dishes like biryani, risotto and paella, to lovely seafood dishes like the French bouillabaisse or many traditional Middle Eastern sweets like halwa.

Somewhere during centuries of successful commerce, Iranian merchants came up with a wonderful idea: to combine two of the most precious gifts from the fertile ground. Our highest quality pistachios are infused with generous amounts of the purest saffron and roasted with salt to produce a savoury, crunchy, aromatic treat that we are very excited to share with you: our wonderful saffron roasted pistachios.

We are honoured to bring you the union of art and nature’s bounty from the ancient land of Persia. Every single pistachio kernel is cultivated by the adoring hands of our people; a gift of love and peace. A bowl of these golden pistachios on your table is the perfect finishing touch to any feast.

Enjoy the music 🎧♪♫♬

What are Pistachios anyway? Where do they come from?

Originally derived from the Middle Persian word pistak, the modern pistachios, like their ancient predecessors, grow on small trees from the cashew family and thrive in warm land such as Iran where it is believed to be indigenous to [1][2].

Pistachio Orchard, Iran- Photo by Siamak Jafari

Legend has it that pistachios were a favorite of the Queen of Sheba and the ownership of pistachio groves meant riches and high status. Perhaps one of the few positive outcomes of Alexander’s invasion of Persia was the fact that pistachio nuts reached Greece and eventually travelled to Italy and Spain [3].

In 1929, one American botanist William E. Whitehouse was sent by the Chico New Plant Introduction Station to Persia (Iran) to collect pistachio seeds for planting in the American South and California. For six months, Whitehouse searched, gradually collecting 20 pounds of different pistachios. After Whitehouse’s return to Chico, the station planted and evaluated 3,000 trees. Only one pistachio rose above the others. Sourced from the Agah family’s orchard in the Iranian town of Rafsanjan, in the province of Kerman, it was given the name “Kerman.” Today, the vast majority of California’s pistachio trees are Kerman [4].

  Gholamreza Agah

   Kerman province

The Iranian town of Rafsanjan, in the province of Kerman, is a pistachio-producing powerhouse in Iran. It’s desert-like climate and high, chill-inducing altitude make it ideal for pistachios.

Pistachio Orchard, Iran- Photo by Ali Majdfar

William E. Whitehouse [4]

California’s San Joaquin Valley would become the Rafsanjan of America. Summer temperatures in the national breadbasket can be roasting, but the winter fogs serve the same purpose that chill from altitude served in Iran [4].
Early on, pistachios were used primarily as an expensive addition in baked goods, but since 1970’s, pistachios have achieved fame as a luxurious nut enjoyed as a snack by food lovers. Today, pistachio trees can be found California, North Africa, New South Wales, Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Chile.

Reference

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistachio
[2] https://www.britannica.com/plant/pistachio-plant
[3] https://americanpistachios.org/growing-and-harvesting/history
[4] https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/where-are-pistachios-from

Iranian Pistachio Varieties:

There are many different types of pistachios that have been carefully developed by inquisitive Iranian farmers and some of these have become stable commercial varieties.

Generally speaking, commercial varieties of Iranian pistachios are divided in two categories based on shape: round and long. A pistachio variety is considered long if the length is at least 1.5 times the width, otherwise the pistachio variety is referred to as round.

The four most common species of pistachios cultivated in Iran are often referred to by their own specific names [1]:

⦁ Fandoghi Pistachios:

This cultivar is the most widely available pistachio variety and grows in most pistachio growing areas of Iran. Fandoghi shells are round and have the lowest shape index among the four cultivars. It comes in the following sizes 28/30, 30/32 and 32/34 nuts per ounce. Size 26/28 is also available in small quantities.

Today, about 40% of Iranian production is of the Fandoghi type. However, due to its limited yield, the new orchards are seldom planted with this variety. It is expected that the production will stabilize at present levels.

⦁ Kalleh Ghouchi (Jumbo) Pistachios:

This type of pistachio tree has a good yield and the shells are round. Sizes are 20/22, 22/24 and 24/26, with 18/20 being available in small quantities.

On the whole Kalleh Ghouchi is not being budded anymore and production is limited to the existing trees. Although quite successful in the commercial sense, Kalleh Ghouchi trees have shown a steep drop in growth and production once they reach 40 years of age and experts have predicted that the production would slowly decline.

⦁ Ahmad Aghaei Pistachios:

These are the newest commercial variety and are very popular with the farmers, because of their high yield and shorter time to reach productivity. This variety is very popular in markets such as India and Greece. Production of this variety is increasing.

Kerman variety of US pistachios resembles the Ahmad Aghaei pistachio in appearance. It also has the whitest shell hue among the four. Ahmad Aghaei is a long pistachio type, with the shape index just falling above 1.5. It comes in sizes 22/24, 24/26, 26/28 and 28/30, with 20/22 being available in small quantities.

⦁ Akbari Pistachios:

This is a newer variety with good yield and long, large shells (sizes: 20/22, 22-24 and 24/26, with 18/20 also available in small quantities).

It has the highest shape index (longest). Akbari pistachios boast the easiest-to-open shells.

Reference :

[1] http://iranpistachio.org/en/pistachios/varieties

Sizing Explanation

Variety and pistachio sizes are the two main factors that affect pistachio price. In-shell pistachio nuts may be sized by the number of nuts per ounce or per 100 grams or by screening based on diameter. For instance, pistachio size 18/20 indicates that there are 18 to 20 pistachio nuts in one ounce. Thus, the smaller number of pistachios in an ounce suggests bigger nuts.

In order to find the pistachio size, you can follow these steps : (Please note that it is recommended to measure 5 ounces of pistachios in order to get a more accurate result.)

1. Measure 142 gr (equal to 5 ounces) of pistachios.
2. Count the pistachio nuts and divide them into groups of five.
3. The number of groups indicates the pistachio size.
(If the result is 28 groups and 4 nuts, the size is 28-30.)

Why should you pick Iranian pistachios?

Iran is the second largest pistachio producer in the world, with a five-year average crop of 172,000 tones. Iran is also a large consumer of pistachios. Around 35% of the crop is consumed domestically and the remaining 65% is exported. The Iranian export share of pistachio kernels is much higher compared to that of the United States (20% on average). Iran is the world’s largest exporter of pistachio kernels; on average accounting for 60% to 70% of the world’s total exports [1].

Iranian pistachios offer various advantages that set them apart from their competitors. The customers can choose from four main commercial varieties and the generally higher kernel weight offers better value for money. Iranian pistachios boast unrivaled world-famous taste which is enhanced by roasting them at higher temperatures. Due to the higher unsaturated oil content the kernels can withstand temperatures as high as 180 C which also successfully eliminates any bacterial contamination that may be present in the raw product. Over the centuries, consumers around the world have shown a preference for the unique taste and texture of Iranian pistachios.
The other factor that makes Iranian pistachios a far better choice is the sheer number of producers, buyers, exporters, and importers in the market. This highly competitive atmosphere ensures fairer trading opportunities to those interested in buying and selling Iranian pistachios [2]. (In the absence of said competition, the market may face price-fixing and market manipulation by influential players).

References:

[1] https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/processed-fruit-vegetables-edible-nuts/pistachios/market-entry

[2] http://iranpistachio.org/en/pistachios/why-iranian-pistachios

Pistachio nutrition facts and health benefits

Pistachios are a rich source of vitamins and minerals, fiber, antioxidants and unsaturated fat which are all necessary for a healthy diet. A serving size of pistachios provides more nutrients than most other nuts and snacks. One ounce of pistachios contains more dietary fiber than half a cup of broccoli or spinach, more vitamin B6 than peanut butter, the same amount of potassium as a large banana, and 15 grams of fat, of which only 1.5 grams is saturated.

FDA published a statement in 2003 approving that scientific evidence suggests that eating 1.5 ounces per day of pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A diet that incorporates a daily dose of pistachios may help reduce the risk of lung cancer and could have helpful anti-inflammatory benefits.

Nutrition Facts (Typical values per 100 gr)