Pine Nuts

Pine Nuts are the edible seeds of certain pines, such as the pinon. The seeds vary in size – are found enclosed in the cone which take 3 to 4 years to mature. The seed are cylindrical in shape and can be up to 2,5 cm in length. One tree can bear about 25 cones, each producing about 100 seeds.The two main kinds are the triangular Chinese pine and the slender Italian Pine nuts.

Pine nut oil extracted from the edible seeds of several species of pine, has a delicate, nutty taste and is used as a flavoring agent. The oil’s rich flavor makes it a good choice for marinades, for use on vegetables, or in salad dressings. Since pine nut oil has a relatively low smoke point, it is therefore not generally used during cooking.