The Health Benefits of Pine Nuts

10. History

The pine nut has a long and cherished history. Greek writers wrote of them as early as 300 BC, and Roman soldiers ate them during battle. Many countries have labeled them as a delicacy because they are only produced among twenty pine tree species. In the U.S. they are typically treated as other nuts, eaten raw, roasted or in sauces. In reality, the pine nut is not a nut at all, but a seed. It is assumed that we call them a nut because they have the nutty flavor and texture we've come to associate with nuts.