Thought you knew everything there is to know about a pistachio? Guess again! Here’s 40 entertaining facts about me…
1. Wonderful Pistachios, the brand, debuted in 2007.
2. California pistachios are generally of the Kerman variety.
3. Wonderful Pistachios comes in Roasted & Salted, Roasted No Salt, Roasted & Salted Shelled and in a variety of flavors (available outside of the United States).
4. Pistachios are one of the oldest flowering nut trees.
5. Pistachios are one of the only two nuts mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 43:11).
6. Humans have eaten pistachio nuts for at least 9,000 years.
7. Pistachios are related to the cashew, mango and spice sumac.
8. The word pistachio comes from Latin – pistacium.
9. In Iran, pistachios are known as the “smiling nut.”
10. In China, they’re called the “happy nut.”
11. Pistachios are also known as the “green almond.”
12. Pistachios were featured in the fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
13. The Queen of Sheba made an official declaration that pistachios were an exclusively royal food.
14. In the first century A.D., Emperor Vitellius introduced Rome to the pistachio.
15. Apicius, Rome’s Julia Child of the first century, includes pistachios in his classical cookbook.
16. In America, pistachios were once dyed red to disguise shell imperfections and make the nuts stand out in vending machines.
17. Until the 1970′s, no U.S. pistachio industry existed.
18. Iran is the largest producer of pistachios in the world.
19. California produces more than 300 million pounds of pistachios, about 98 percent of the domestic crop.
20. California is the second largest producer in the world.
21. Pistachio ice cream was invented by James W. Parkinson in the 1940′s.
22. Pistachios grow in heavy grape-like clusters surrounded by a fleshy hull.
23. Pistachios ripen in late summer or early autumn.
24. The pistachio kernel fills inside the shell so vigorously that it splits the shell.
25. February 26th is recognized as World Pistachio Day.
26. Pistachio trees are wind-pollinated.
27. One male tree will produce enough pollen for 25 nut-bearing females.
28. Female trees produce their first nuts at about age five.
29. A pistachio tree can bear fruit for up to 200 years.
30. Pistachios are harvested using mechanical tree shakers.
31. Pistachios must be hulled and dried immediately to preserve their delicate quality.
32. Pistachio orchards bear nuts in “alternate-bearing” cycles, i.e., their crop year is heavy one year and light the next.
33. Trees require about 1,000 hours of temperatures at 45 degrees F or below for good production.
34. If you are sitting under a pistachio tree and you hear the shells cracking open, it is a sign of good luck.
35. Pistachios are naturally green with a purple hull (skin).
36. In India and China, pistachios are usually given as a gift during Diwali and Chinese New Year.
37. The shelf life of an in-shell pistachio is about one year.
38. Pistachios have been known to absorb moisture from the air and will become stale if not safely stored.
39. Shelled pistachios, however, are best eaten within four months.
40. Pistachios taste great!!!!
Grew up on pistachios.. can never get enough!
pistachios are great and good for you too
Love Pistachios, my favorite nuts !
Pick meeeeeeee
They have been my favorite nuts since I was a kid, I can always count on getting the freshest bag of pistachios when I purchase the Wonderful Pistachios! Yummy and they are very diet friendly, even more of a reason to love these Nuts!
We love your NUTS
Pistachios are the best!
If item #29 is true; is item #27 still around?
II love this brand of pistachios!!they are so good for youtoo! I would love to win a bag! buy them quite often at Publix!!
Your Pistachio’s are the best by far : )
Everytime we try a bag, we never get not 1 bad one….. not like with other brands. Seriously, I have bought other brands and end up getting rid of a bad tasting one…and then Im done….I wont eat another… Then I will go and buy yours and nummmm nummmmm nummmm lol
I can eat an entire bag in one sitting!
Love your nuts
I love them. I spend @$200 a month on these for my family and I.
Pistachios are my all time favorite nut!!! I constantly find myself buying the wonderfull pistachios when i find them on sale! Lovin my Pistachios!
I love pistachios…I make a delicious pistachio cake!! YUMMY!!
41: Pistachios taste best when free
love love love pistachios
I love your salt & pepper pistachios that are sold at Costco. Need to try the other flavors yet. Have a great day! Linda B;)
love them
You guys ROCK!!
Your pistashios don’t need 40 reasons why they are the best, they just are! Simply Wonderful, don’t you think!
Love pistahios
Pistachio’s are my favorite..love Them!
I love nuts and Pistachios is the best!!!
i want pistachios for my mom she loves them
I love wonderful pistachios!!!
Great for my heart!
I want some nuts
our whole family love your pistachios
Love anything pistachios!
I love pistachios!