Twenty species of pines will produce seeds poking out of their pinecones, technically not nuts. Four varieties are harvested most by man: “the Mexican pinon, the Colorado pinon, the Chinese nut pine, and the Italian stone pine.” Pine nuts were harvested for thousands of years in the western US Great Basin(1) and a good part of the Mediterranean region. Some kind or other has been found in French caves, the ruins of volcano-devastated Pompeii, and waste dumps of Roman encampments in Britain. Romans and Greeks thought them tasty. Roman legionaries took them along Spain has led the world in production of pine nuts in recent years(2).
Ancient Egyptian, Roman, Persian-born, and Andalusian physicians have all claimed medicinal properties for pine nuts. Various historic medical authorities including the prominent Roman physician Galen believed they cleared lungs/chests. Other historic uses/ascribed properties included remedying coughs, kidneys, bladders, and bleeding and as an astringent(2).
New Mexican pine nuts had relatively good transportation to markets compared to other pine nuts from the southwestern US prior World War II, due to trading post systems. Route 66 traffic after that war meant better pine-nut market access for the Diné (Navajo) and Hopi. The Great Basin/Nevada has a Great Basin Pine Nut variety that is much easier to shell. However, transportation out of the region wasn’t very much available until the time of the Internet except for “California, Reno and Mormon population centers.”(3)
References:
Ancient Egyptian, Roman, Persian-born, and Andalusian physicians have all claimed medicinal properties for pine nuts. Various historic medical authorities including the prominent Roman physician Galen believed they cleared lungs/chests. Other historic uses/ascribed properties included remedying coughs, kidneys, bladders, and bleeding and as an astringent(2).
New Mexican pine nuts had relatively good transportation to markets compared to other pine nuts from the southwestern US prior World War II, due to trading post systems. Route 66 traffic after that war meant better pine-nut market access for the Diné (Navajo) and Hopi. The Great Basin/Nevada has a Great Basin Pine Nut variety that is much easier to shell. However, transportation out of the region wasn’t very much available until the time of the Internet except for “California, Reno and Mormon population centers.”(3)
References:
- “How Much Pine Nuts Should I Eat A Day.” The Super Healthy Food, September 27, 2022. Web. Nov. 19, 2022. https://thesuperhealthyfood.com/how-much-pine-nuts-should-i-eat-a-day/.
- Casas-Agustencha, Patricia, Salas-Huetosa, Albert, and Salas-Salvadó, Jordi. Abstract of “Mediterranean Nuts: Origins, Ancient Medicinal Benefits and Symbolism.” Public Health Nutrition, Dec. 2011. Abstract in Wellness Resources. Web. Nov. 19, 2022. https://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/nuts-and-pine-nuts-history.
- “The Story of the American Pine Nut Market.” PineNut.com: Helping Trees Empower People. Goods From The Woods. Web. Nov. 19, 2022. http://pinenut.com/pinon-pinyon-history/pine-nut-markets.shtml.
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