Pine Nut 2L

Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pine trees (family Pinaceae; genus Pinus). About 20 species of pine produce seeds large enough to be worth harvesting; in other pines the seeds are also edible; but are too small to be of value as a human food. Pine nuts have been eaten in Europe and Asia since the Paleolithic period. Pine nuts are regarded as a delicacy in many cultures around the world. The shelled pine nuts appear like puffed grains of rice. The pine nut is often called the stone pine; because the tree grows well in stony ground.