| Since the earliest of time and even before agriculture | | | | today.This is also the reason why macadamia nuts |
| was used by the Greeks to have better food | | | | are only available already de-shelled. Macadamia nuts |
| resources, `Nuts' were a stable food and nutritional | | | | also are valued for their oil and the macadamia nut |
| source in the diet of manhood in the dark ages. | | | | butter.They are available roasted and salted. When |
| During those times, nuts were plentiful, as there | | | | buying macadamia nuts, give care that they are |
| were much more forests as today, and well liked for | | | | packed in a air tight or vacuum bags, as they |
| their easy storage, which enabled people to keep | | | | become easily rancid once opened.Macadamia nuts |
| them for times in which food was hard to find. | | | | are used for confectioneries or as snacks, but also |
| (Winter, rainy season, etc)There is evidence that as | | | | gain in popularity in the kitchen as they have a very |
| far back as the second century B.C., the Romans | | | | mild and subtle taste and add texture to salads, and |
| distributed sugar almonds on special occasions such | | | | hot dishes. It's oil makes excellent vinaigrette and cold |
| as marriages and births.Nuts have their place in all | | | | sauces.WATER CHESTNUTSThe name refers to a |
| cultures and through almost all cuisine around the | | | | nut like tuber of a aquatic plant called Trapa. The |
| world. Nuts are liked by people of all ages for their | | | | plants are common to several parts of the world, but |
| subtle taste and high fat and carbohydrate content. | | | | are mainly used in Japan, China and Thailand where it |
| It is this subtle taste that Chefs like when creating | | | | is also a sought after ingredient in it's cuisines.The |
| new dishes and variations.DESCRIPTION & | | | | trapa plant roots in ponds and lakes and sends, its' |
| SPECIESUnder the category nuts, we understand | | | | leaves to the surface, similar to a water lily. The |
| anything from a seed to a legume or tuber. The | | | | water chestnut grows on the roots underneath the |
| peanut, as an example, is a legume, the Brazil nut and | | | | water surface. Water chestnuts are flat and round |
| macadamia nut are seeds and almonds are the seed | | | | with a diameter of 5 - 7cm. They have a soft black |
| of a fruit similar to a peach.Botanically nuts are single | | | | skin and white flesh similar to the flesh of a coconut. |
| seeded fruits with a hard or leathery shell that | | | | Once peeled, they can be eaten raw, or dried and |
| contain a edible kernel, which is enclosed in a soft | | | | are a well liked ingredient because its crunchy |
| inner skin.Generally, all nut trees grow slowly but live | | | | texture, and sweet subtle taste. Water chestnuts |
| long. Trees of walnut, chestnut or pecan continue to | | | | are also boiled and made into flour, which is used for |
| produce nuts, often more than hundred years after | | | | thickening of sauces and dishes, much like |
| planting.Nut trees of any species are found all over | | | | cornstarch.CHESTNUTChestnuts are thought to have |
| the world. Almonds for example are found in | | | | originated in Southern Europe and Persia even though |
| California, Spain, Morocco, Italy and even Australia, | | | | they are also found in China, Japan and Northern |
| where as the walnut can be found anywhere from | | | | America.The nuts of the chestnut tree have a brown |
| North America to the Andes and Persia to Australia. | | | | shiny color and leathery shell. they can be eaten raw, |
| Asia also has a great variety of nuts. Ginkgo nuts in | | | | but mostly are consume boiled, baked or roasted or |
| China, candle nuts in Indonesia and Malaysia, coconut | | | | as a chestnut puree sweetened or unsweetened. |
| in throughout southern Asia, cashew nuts in India and | | | | They are also sold in syrup as marron |
| Malaysia and the Philippines, chestnuts in China and | | | | glaces.Chestnuts are the only nuts, which are treated |
| Japan, and the water chestnut which is found in | | | | like a vegetable because they contain more starch |
| China, Japan, Korea and the East Indies.SOME OF | | | | (30%) and less fat 3%.Chestnuts are also made into |
| THE BETTER KNOWN NUTS:ALMONDScientist | | | | a flour high on fiber and starch.CASHEW |
| consider the almond as a stone fruit, much like | | | | NUTOriginating in the West Indies and native to the |
| cherries, peaches and prunes.Because most people | | | | north of Brazil, Portuguese explorers introduced the |
| only know the seed (stone) of this fruit, it is | | | | nut to India and Malaysia as well as parts of |
| generally accepted as a nut.Almond on the tree, look | | | | Africa.The hard-shelled nut grows inside the cashew |
| like small green peaches. When ripe the shell will open | | | | apple. When mature the cashew nut appears at the |
| and reveal the nut in its shell.There are various | | | | end of the red or yellow apple. The cashew tree is a |
| varieties of almonds.The bitter almond is in fact the | | | | member of the poison ivy family and farmers must |
| kernel of the apricot, which was found growing wild | | | | take great precautions when extracting the nuts. The |
| in China as far back as the late Tang Dynasty (AD | | | | hard shell contains an oil, which irritates the skin, so |
| 619-907).This same apricot was taken to Europe and | | | | the nuts are heated to extract the kernel. The |
| became the apricot fruit, which is now enjoyed all | | | | smoke and steam, which occurs however may still be |
| over the world. The bitter almond kernel is toxic in its | | | | harmful to skin and eyes. When heated the cashew |
| raw state and must be boiled quickly and poached in | | | | nuts are harmless and may be extracted.GINKGO |
| a oven before being further used. It is primarily used | | | | NUTThe ginkgo is the prehistoric maidenhair tree, |
| in Chinese desserts like the almond bean curd.The | | | | which survives as a wild tree only in China.The fruit |
| sweet almond is generally confined for fresh | | | | looks like a tiny plum but has a foul and bitter shell. |
| consumption. In 1986, California alone produced | | | | the Chinese wait for the smelly hull to full off, then |
| 70,000 tons of almonds, which is half of the world's | | | | paint the nuts and use them for festive decorations, |
| production. The almond has been cultivated around | | | | before they crack them open to eat the nut. In |
| the Mediterranean since ancient times and can still be | | | | Japan and Korea, ginkgo nuts are skewered and then |
| found wild in Algeria and around the black sea. Sweet | | | | grilled, which turns the nuts color from yellow to |
| almonds can be bought whole, shelled, cut in 1/2 with | | | | green. In China, the ginkgo nut is a popular ingredient |
| skin, without skin, flaked, blanched, slivered ground | | | | to vegetarian dishes. The nuts can be obtained fresh |
| roasted or salted. they are used for snacks, | | | | or canned.HAZELNUT/FILBERTSThe nut of the hazel |
| marzipan, confectionery, and desserts as well as for | | | | bush is native to Europe and North America and was |
| the production of liqueur essence, oil and cosmetic | | | | mentioned in writings as far back as 2838 B.C., and |
| products.BUNYA BUNYA PINE NUTThe bunya bunya | | | | was credited of currying many human ills as well as |
| tree is a member of the pine family and grows | | | | being considered excellent for Boldness and use as a |
| almost everywhere in Australia. Originally the trees | | | | hair tonic. Some say that the name filbert comes |
| originated in the area of Brisbane and Rockhampton | | | | from Saint Philibert, a French abbot whose feast day |
| in Queensland Australia. Only the female trees are | | | | on 22 August coincides with the ripening of the first |
| producing a 2cm x 2.5cm nut in the pinecone.In the | | | | nuts in the Northern hemisphere.Hazelnuts have a |
| old days, the bunya bunya pine nuts were stable | | | | very hard shell, which has to be cracked by a |
| food for the aborigines and also used in ceremonials. | | | | nutcracker before getting to the kernel. Hazelnuts are |
| These days, the nuts gain in popularity through the | | | | available, raw, blanched, or toasted, chopped, ground, |
| trend of native food in Australia (bush food) in recent | | | | cooking as well as hazelnut liquor.PEANUTThe peanut |
| years.The nut is rich is carbohydrate, similar to the | | | | is not a true nut. It is the seed of a leguminous plant |
| chestnut, and therefore used more like a potato than | | | | with a soft, brownish colored brittle shell and belong |
| a nut. the bunya bunya nuts can be eaten raw but | | | | to the Botanical family of beans and peas. But they |
| are usually boiled for easy removing of the skin. | | | | are usually considered along with the nuts because of |
| Shelled nuts are then butter fried and flavored with | | | | they're physical characteristics and nutritional value. |
| pepper or sugar, or added to stews and soups.RED | | | | The nuts grow on the long roots of the plant and |
| BOPPLE NUTThe red bopple nuts are a relative of | | | | below the ground. The peanut is native to Brazil and |
| the macadamia nut, and native to the tropical rain | | | | has been found there ever since the first recording in |
| forest of the East Coast of Australia.The nut is | | | | 950 B.C..Today, peanuts are cultivated throughout the |
| about the same size as a hazelnut and has a thick | | | | tropics all over the world (India, China, West Africa, |
| (0.5cm 0 1cm), woody husk with a bright red outer | | | | Australia and the USA are the largest peanut growing |
| skin, which only appears if the nut is fully ripe.In | | | | countries). Peanuts produce excellent oil, which is |
| contrary to most other nuts, the red bopple nut is | | | | used for salads and cold dishes as well as for frying. |
| very low on fat, but very high in calcium and | | | | Peanuts also produce peanut butter, margarine, and |
| potassium. the low fat content make this nut very | | | | also used in canning of sardines. Peanuts are available |
| easy digestible. The nuts are eaten raw or | | | | whole, de-shelled and de-skinned and raw or toasted. |
| toasted.COCONUT"He who plants a coconut tree", | | | | Peanuts are used in all different varieties in |
| the saying goes, "plants food and drink, vessels and | | | | everything from salads to main courses and |
| clothing, a habitation for himself and a heritage for his | | | | desserts.PINENUTThese are the edible seed of the |
| children". Indeed every part of the coconut is used, | | | | pine tree and grow in the cone. Pine trees are found |
| but only the coconut milk and the coconut meat are | | | | in the Southern USA, Mexico and around the |
| foods. The shell is used as charcoal, the husk is used | | | | Mediterranean sea. It is very difficult to establish a |
| to make ropes, clothing and brushes, and the trunk | | | | pinenut industry as the trees are growing very slow |
| of the tree and leaves are used for roofs of houses | | | | and don't carry a lot of fruits until they're 75 years |
| and building material respectively.The fruit of the palm | | | | old.Pine nuts are mostly obtained raw and then |
| `cocos nucifera' has an edible kernel and therefore | | | | toasted, fried or grilled. Pine nut oil is used for the |
| qualifies as a nut. The palm tree is native to the | | | | cosmetic industry. Pine nut flour is used in |
| Philippines, Malaysia, Brazil and Indonesia, and can | | | | confectionery.PISTACHIO NUTThe pistachio nut is a |
| produce 50 - 100 nuts a year, over a life span of 70 | | | | small green kernel, which grows on the pistachio tree |
| years. Coconut palms grow best close to the seaside | | | | originating in Syria, Palestine and Persia.The natural |
| but have been proven to withstand high altitude, | | | | color of the shell is grayish white, but some times the |
| although the production rate is diminishing as further | | | | nuts are dyed red to cover up some of the |
| away from the sea the tree grows.The large thick | | | | staining.The pistachio nut is now cultivated in India, |
| green pod encloses a brown fibrous husk around a | | | | Europe, North Africa, Mexico, the USA and the Far |
| brown shell , which contains a layer of soft white | | | | East. Pistachios are usually sold in their shell or shelled |
| flesh and the clear water in the center. Sub-species | | | | and blanched.The greenish seed is used as flavoring in |
| found only on one island of the Seychelles, in the | | | | cooking, candies and ice cream.WALNUTThe walnut is |
| Indian Ocean, produces a nut often weighing more | | | | related to the hickory and pecan tree and grows |
| than 20 kg, which needs 10 years to ripen.Coconuts | | | | anywhere from North America to the Andes and |
| are the worlds most commercially used nuts. | | | | Europe to China. English walnuts, butternuts and |
| Especially the meat, or copra, as it is called after sun | | | | hickory nuts are all walnuts, botanical speaking. All |
| drying, is vital for the export industries, in coconut | | | | those walnuts have different shells and kernels but |
| growing countries. The coconut is a important food | | | | the English walnut with it's rough, rippled shell and |
| source especially in South East Asia, India, Brazil and | | | | yellow brown kernel is the most popular and popularly |
| the South Pacific Islands.The copra can be brought | | | | referred to as `The Walnut'.Walnuts are bought in the |
| shredded or desiccated and is used in confectioneries, | | | | shell or de-shelled and are sought after for their oil, |
| ice creams and to coat chicken or fish for frying. | | | | which is used for cooking as well as for salads and |
| However much of it is pressed for its oil also called | | | | dressing.OTHER COMMONLY USED NUTS INCLUDE: |
| coconut butter as it is white and fatty at room | | | | Macadamia Nuts ) |
| temperature. Not only is it used for cooking and to | | | | Bunya Bunya Pine Nuts ) Australia |
| make margarine, but it also goes into soaps, | | | | Red Bobble Nut ) |
| detergents, shampoos, face cream, perfumes and | | | | Candle Nut ) Malaysia |
| candles.It is also a major ingredient in glycerin, | | | | Palm Nut ) Philippines, |
| synthetic rubber, safety glass and hydraulic brake | | | | Brazil |
| fluid. Coconut juice or milk is the natural juice of the | | | | Coconut ) Indonesia,China |
| nut, but not the water inside the coconut. It is won | | | | Water Chestnut ) |
| by shredding the raw coconut meat, then adding | | | | Brazil Nuts ) South America |
| water and straining the mixture through a cotton | | | | Beech Nuts ) USA |
| cloth. The coconut milk has then the consistency and | | | | Pecan Nuts ) North America NUTRITIONAL VALUE |
| color of skim milk and is available canned or | | | | AND INFORMATIONNuts are rich in fat (40-60%) and |
| frozen.CANDLE NUTThe candle nut gets her name, | | | | dietary fiber (5-15%) with moderate amount of |
| from when threaded tightly on the midrib of a palm | | | | protein (2-25%) and small amounts of starch (up to |
| leaf it has been used a primitive candle. More | | | | 10%). As mentioned above chestnuts are an |
| recently, the nuts were grounded to a paste, mixed | | | | exemption to this general rule.The fats in nuts are |
| with copra (grated coconut meat) and ten formed | | | | mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated and |
| into a candle.Candlenuts are the seed of the candle | | | | contain no cholesterol as nuts are harvested from |
| berry tree native to Indonesia and Malaysia but | | | | plants. Only the coconut and palm nut contain |
| widely spread throughout south East Asia, the South | | | | saturated fats.Significant amounts of minerals can be |
| Pacific and Sri Lanka.The nut has a very high content | | | | found in nuts, including zinc, calcium, iron, phosphorus |
| on fat and is valued for the extracted oil for lighting | | | | and magnesium.They also contain some provitamins |
| as well as cooking. The nut is colored gray to black, | | | | and vitamins like thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin |
| about 5cm in diameter, with a thin, papery husk | | | | E & C.Nuts contain very little natural sodium and have |
| containing one or two nuts.Candlenut oil for lighting | | | | a high amount of potassium, which in this constellation |
| purposes is extracted by roasting the nuts when | | | | is recommended for the control of blood |
| they are only half ripe as oil for cooking is extracted | | | | pressure.Unfortunately nuts are often sold salted as |
| by roasting the nuts when they are fully ripe. For | | | | snacks, which upsets this natural balance, and by a |
| human consumption, the nuts have to be roasted as | | | | over consummation of salted nuts people take in a |
| raw once have been causing sicknesses.Ripe candle | | | | lot of fat and salt.Nuts are also a great source of |
| nuts are roasted, then pounded into a meal and | | | | energy and often used in diets for athletes.Used in |
| mixed with salt, chilies or shrimp paste for usage in | | | | moderate amounts, nuts in unsalted forms are |
| curries or as a spicy condiment to curries. | | | | nutritionally valuable food.USAGE OF NUTS FOR THE |
| Traditionally, the Javanese have roasted the nuts for | | | | PROFESSIONAL CHEFOne does not know where to |
| eating in the whole.PALM NUTThe palmyra palm | | | | start where to compile information about the usage |
| native to most South East Asian Countries produces | | | | of nuts and nut related product in today's hospitality. |
| a hard, shiny nut, from which a sweetish sap or gel is | | | | In the kitchens, there is no limit on the amount of |
| extracted. While this sap is used in the Indonesian | | | | dishes and creations a Chef can use nuts or nut |
| cuisine for soups and desserts, it is on other well | | | | products for. From appetizers to salads, soups and |
| known product that is begin produced out of the | | | | desserts, with cheese, fish, pasta, meats and |
| palmyra palm - The Palm Sugar (gula melacca).There | | | | vegetables, nuts are very versatile and do not have |
| are not reliable data available on the nutritional value | | | | a over powering flavor, and its subtle taste and |
| of the palm nut, but it is widely known that the fat is | | | | crunchy texture adopt early to almost all given |
| saturated.MACADAMIA NUTNative to Queensland | | | | products as a supplement.Nut oils are also widely |
| and New South Wales in Australia, the macadamia | | | | used for dressings, frying and flavoring of hot and |
| nut takes its name from Dr John McAdam, a scientist | | | | cold dishes. Nut liqueurs can be a welcome |
| and early promoter of the cultivation Australia.The | | | | supplement to savory sauces as well as pastry |
| macadamia trees are evergreen and reach a height | | | | sauces and creams, marzipan and other nut pastes |
| of up to 20 meters. The edible seed of the silk oat | | | | are often used to produced chocolates and |
| tree has a very hard, light brown shell, 2 - 3cm in | | | | confectionery items. In the Indian cuisine, a cashew |
| diameter.In 1888, macadamia trees have been | | | | nut paste is often used for the thickening of curries |
| planted in Hawaii where through careful cloning and | | | | and sauces. Through the wide spread of different |
| hybridization, it became an important commercial | | | | nuts around the world, nuts are used in almost all |
| product.Today, macadamia nuts are also cultivated in | | | | cuisines known and its nutritional value make it an |
| South Africa, Zimbabwe, California and parts of South | | | | asset to so many diets since the ancient days.In the |
| and Central America.It is very difficult to crack the | | | | beverage outlets, nuts are used in form of lacquers |
| macadamia nut as it's shell is very hard and so tight | | | | (Hazelnut, Almond) and liquid (coconut Milk), and as |
| to the kernel that when cracked the nut is smashed. | | | | snacks served with drinks (Salted Nuts)Thomas |
| In Hawaii, American scientist developed a way of | | | | Wenger is a Chef and Author his career has spanned |
| separating the kernel from the shell by shrinking them | | | | the globe for the past 25 years. His keen interest in |
| in drying bins. They then developed the first | | | | regional Asian cuisines, cultures and traditional cooking |
| commercial cracker. It was through these two | | | | techniques, combined with his background of a |
| developments that the macadamia nut could be | | | | traditional continental European culinary training, define |
| formed to the commercial importance it has | | | | his cooking style and cuisine today. |