Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
- These nuts are borne on the female Pistacia trees native to Iran and Turkmenistan.
- Trees bear either male or female flowers.
- Nuts are oval in shape, 15 to 20 mm long, and are commonly sold still in the split beige shell, or shelled.
- Many imported supplies are dyed red, supposedly to hide imperfections.
- Roasted pistachios turn red if they are first marinated in brine.
- Undyed nuts have a greenish tinge.
- Main suppliers are Iran and the US.
- Australian grown pistachios come from an area along the Murray River, near the Victorian, SA and NSW borders, western NSW or WA.
- Available: all year.
Botanical Name: Pistacia vera (Anacardiaceae)
Health Benefits
100g of Pistachio Nut yields the following:
- Calories – 569
- Total Carbs – 9% of DV
- Protein –21.35 g
- Dietary Fibre – 41% of DV
- Vitamin A – 5% of DV
- Vitamin C – 4% of DV
- Calcium – 11% of DV
- Iron – 23% of DV
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Selecting tips
- Pistachios can be purchased in the shell or with their shells removed, both raw and roasted.
- Choose pistachios in their shells with partially open shells. Pistachio shells split due to the expanding nut inside.
- An immature nut will be flavourless and has a firmly closed shell.
- Choose the most colourful bright green nuts for the most flavour.