Pine nuts
- To: Mediterranean Discussion Group <m*@ucdavis.edu>
- Subject: Pine nuts
- From: A* <b*@bcn.servicom.es>
- Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 20:57:24 +0200
Jan,
Pinus pinea is the only pine that produces edible nuts in the
Mediterranean. At least, nobody collects or uses nuts from other pine
species in our area (near Barcelona). They are indeed expensive, but
widely used for traditional Mediterranean cuisine and bakery. You can
eat them raw as well. The price is justified by the labour intensive
process of geting them:
Normally you collect the cones when they are still closed, towards the
end of summer or early automn. I remember opening them as a child by
letting them dry naturally sitting in the sun - the cones, not me :-) I
cannot remember how many days this would take. Once they open, you get
the nuts, which contain one seed each. You crack each nut, one by one,
to get the seed inside or you may break it. (Maybe I was being
particularly clumsy? Anyone in the group knows a faster method?)
We always used the used, open cones to start the fire in winter at the
fireplace as they burn rapidly and have a nice smell (to me) when
burning.
Albert Bestard
Collbato (Barcelona)
Zone 8'5
