February 26 is National Pistachio Day! Most recently, I enjoyed a very pistachio-centric treat: a 5″ pistachio raspberry rose heart-shaped macaron!
Made by Beaucoup Bakery here in Vancouver, the macaron features a pistachio buttercream, raspberry rose gelée, fresh raspberries, and crushed pistachios.
5 fun facts on pistachios
To celebrate National Pistachio Day, here are 5 fun facts on pistachios:
- The United States is the largest producer of pistachios, followed by Iran, Turkey and China (based on 2016 data).
- Pistachios are super nutritious! Pistachios are a good source of protein, fiber, several dietary minerals and the B vitamins, thiamin and especially vitamin B6.
- Hearing the crack of a pistachio shell is considered good luck. In many countries, such as Israel and Russia, hearing the cracking of the pistachio nut was considered a very good omen.
- Pistachios are happy nuts! They are called “the smiling nut” in Iran and “the happy nut” in China .
- Pistachios are one of the oldest flowering trees in the world. They were a common food as early as 6750 BC. In fact, they are just one of two nuts mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 43:11) with the other being the almond.
How are you celebrating National Pistachio Day?