Cracking the Shell: Top 6 Amazing Fun Facts About Pistachios You Never Knew!

1. Pistachios: Undercover Superfruits

Pistachios' greatest prank on the world: disguising themselves as nuts while moonlighting as undercover superfruits! The sneaky seed is actually a drupe, a delicious ruse where we devour the kernel part and trash the fleshy fruit it hails from, unlike its fellow drupe agents - cherries and peaches.
Source => foodprint.org

2. Noah's Nutty Ark Snack

Before Noah added them to the ark's snack bar, world leaders were crunching on them for centuries: Pistachios, which date back to 6750 BC, actually hail from Asia Minor, with the United States now dominating their cultivation in California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Source => heartofthedesert.com

Discover the shocking truth about almonds - they're not nuts after all! Uncover their secret identity as drupes, related to peaches and mangoes, while still enjoying their health benefits.

=> Fun Facts about Almonds

3. Pistachio Harvest: Race Against Time

In the pistachio world, it's a real nutty race against time: their shells harden before the kernel develops, leading to a frantic six-week harvest season in California, where trunk-shaking machines gather nuts as researchers work on increasingly wacky techniques, including a massive hairbrush-like contraption.
Source => ucanr.edu

4. Pistachios' Journey to American Stardom

Crack open a history book and find a nutty surprise: Pistachios (the unofficial poster children for snack envy) first flexed their shells in Central Asia, spreading their irresistible charm across Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan before being called to California's nutty showbiz scene in the 1950s, where they became an American sensation. Nowadays though, Iran and the U.S. still hustle as the top producers of these deliciously green treats.
Source => heartofthedesert.com

5. Pistachio Protein Punch: Move Over, Spinach!

Next time Popeye needs to flex his muscles, he might just choose to go nuts over spinach: pistachios pack a protein punch with 636% more of the muscle-building nutrient per 100 grams than his beloved leafy greens.
Source => soupersage.com

6. Aphids & Pistachios: BFFs for Life

Aphids and pistachio trees: the ultimate friends with benefits situation! These little green insects and their nutty BFFs cohabitate so harmoniously, they'd put the best sitcom roommates to shame: Together, the aphids craft galls on the tree's leaves, serving as nurseries for their wee ones and releasing antibacterial, antifungal substances to keep Mr. Pistachio healthy, while also fending off vegan goat invaders with a strong odor that acts like a Bouncer-Eau-de-Goat-Be-Gone.
Source => haaretz.com