Portuguese pine nuts
Portuguese pine nuts come from stone pine, or also called umbrella pine, which the scientific name is Pinus pinea L. According to results from the Portuguese forest national inventory announced in 2007 Portugal has about 83,900 ha of stone pine. The species is very well adapted to high temperatures and drought characteristic of the Mediterranean climate. It is less sensitive to diseases and pests than other Mediterranean pines. A considerable number of birds, mammals, insects, reptiles and amphibians dependent on stone pine stands. As stone pine is not a fast growing species, neither is its timber very valuable, the highest income source of stone pine stands is from its pine nuts. The harvesting of its edible kernels, pine nuts, which are a non-wood forest product (NWFP) is considered to have fewer negative impacts on forest ecosystems than timber harvesting and can provide an array of social and economic benefits. Pine kernels distinguished taste makes them a highly rated aperitif and a classical ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine. Portugal retains many traditional recipes which include pine kernels.
[Portuguese gourmet]
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