Things you didn’t know about pine nuts

Pine nuts are a small delicacy of a lifetime.

Years ago they were included in many of the recipes of traditional Spanish cuisine, but they were especially used to make desserts and sweets such as panellets or the coatings of some pastries, cookies and cakes.

In recent years we have seen, with regret, how their price has reached stratospheric quotas, which has damaged the domestic pine nut market. But, why are pine nuts so expensive, what are their health benefits, and why are they so expensive?

At
Casa Mira
we have already told you some very interesting curiosities such as where marzipan comes from, which you can find in previous blogs. This time, we tell you some curiosities you didn’t know about pine nuts.

Why are they so expensive?

Although in Spain we are surrounded by pine forests everywhere, the truth is that pine nuts are not so easy to obtain.

First of all, not all pine trees yield edible pine nuts, or at least pine nuts with a good flavor.

Collecting them requires a lot of work, as they cannot be cultivated. All the pine nuts we find are harvested from natural environments, therefore, their collection is slow. To obtain 1 kg of pine nuts, 40 kg of pine cones are needed.

Although machinery exists to shell pine nuts, it is expensive, so many nut companies continue to remove them one by one by hand.

Still, pine nuts have always been an expensive but affordable treat. The reason for the price increase is due to the invasion of the American pine nut bug, a small insect that devours them at incredible speeds and has reduced their production considerably.

Where are the best pine nuts from?

We are fortunate that Spain is the world’s leading producer of pine nuts and where there are more varieties. However, its high price has encouraged the entry and sale of other varieties from China, Russia and Turkey, with a lower price.

However, the quality of the national pine nut, as well as its intense flavor, is not comparable with other countries.

Are pine nuts healthy?

Of course they do. Like other nuts, they have excellent health properties.

• 1.- They are sources of vitamins A, B, C and E, which help to strengthen the defenses.
• They help the cardiovascular system and boost the anti-inflammatory response thanks to their Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. They are the richest nut in lipids, after macadamia nuts.
• 3.- They provide minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus.
• 4.- They have a lot of fiber, which helps regulate intestinal transit.

In Casa Mira you can find authentic national pine nuts. With an intense flavor and exceptional quality they will help to improve the taste of any dish or dessert. Don’t miss our empiñonadas, an authentic house delicacy made with flambéed marzipan and the best national pine nuts.

You can find them in our stores in the center of Madrid, or in our online store.

Don’t miss them!