Pine Nuts

Pine nuts or kernels are small edible seeds, which are extracted from the cones of various species of pine. The most commonly eaten variety is that from the European stone pine (Pinus pinea), which is native to northern Mediterranean regions. The small, oil-rich seeds are encased in a hard shell. The seeds are sometimes referred to as pignolia nuts, whereas the seeds of the pinyon pines (Pinus edulis and Pinus monophylla), which grow in the south-western US and in northern Mexico, are known as pinon nuts.

Pine nuts have a high nutritional value being particularly rich in protein, lipids, and vitamins such as B1, B2, K, and E. It also serves as a good source of minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.