Also known as pine kernels, pignolia orpinoli. Pine nuts come from the stone pine Pineus pinea, a beautiful Mediterranean pine tree.  They are grown in China, Italy, Mexico, North Africa and southwest USA.  

The pinecones are gathered, the seeds shaken out and cracked and the small white or cream coloured kernels are extracted. This is a labour intensive process making the nut quite expensive to produce.  

Depending on the species pine nuts contain between 10 - 35% protein.  They contain approximately 60% unsaturated fats. Pine nuts are a good source of dietary fibre.      

Their delicious delicate nutty taste has made them a very popular ingredient inItalian, Spanish and Middle Eastern cuisine.  Toast them to get adeeper flavour, great tossed through a pasta dish or salad, grind them withbasil, garlic, parmesan cheese and olive oil to make Pesto.

See the Cous Cous recipe for a possible use of pine nuts.