According to the Uncyclopedia, pistachio nuts are the 5th most addictive substance on the planet. (What’s more, there’s a 1 in 3 chance that you or a loved one is already hooked!) Sure, they’re delicious. Sure, they keep you coming back for more. But what’s the backstory here?
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Well, when it comes to backstory, there’s a lot of it. Pistachios are one of the oldest flowering nut trees, and are one of the only two nuts mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 43:11). Humans have eaten pistachio nuts for at least 9,000 years. The modern pistachio nut P. vera was first cultivated in Western Asia, where it has long been an important crop in cooler parts of Iran. According to legend, pistachios were featured in the fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon, built about 700 B.C. by King Nebuchadnezzar for his wife Amytis. The Queen of Sheba also loved pistachios. In fact, she demanded that the entire region’s pistachio harvest be set aside for her. (Greedy Sheeby!)
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A seed rather than a true nut, almost 90% of the fat found in pistachios is the healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats. Pistachios are a good source of fiber providing 3 grams per serving, that’s more than many types of whole fruit–you would have to eat three plums to get the same amount of fiber found in one serving of pistachios. Just one serving of pistachios has 32% of magnesium, 34% of iron, 65% of a daily serving of B1, 69% of phosphorous, and a whopping 98% of B6.We’re proud to offer local pistachios in our cereals. A desert plant, the pistachio loves our California sunshine. The state produces upwards 300 million pounds of pistachios, about 98 percent of the domestic crop. Pretty impressive, when you consider that there was virtually no pistachio production in the state until the 1970’s!
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Getting Help
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Pistachio Addicts Anonymous holds regular meetings in most major civic centers and many churches across North America. Don’t want help? Then try a helping (or two!) on your Mojamix. (Also, listen to this song while you do it.) Indulge the decadence!
