Last Updated on July 29, 2021 by
The hard-shelled fruits we call nuts to differ widely in size and flavor. Walnuts, with their crinkly, hard shells enclosed in a round, husk, are a favorite in this country. Long ago, Oriental princes sent them as presents to rulers of lands where the walnut tree did not grow.
The chestnut, too, has long been valued. There are famous old chestnut trees reputed to be over 500 hundred years old, and, in Spain especially, this tree is highly prized.
A nut that is very hard to crack but most delicious to eat is the Brazil nut. These three-sided nuts grow in clusters of twenty or more, tightly packed in a hard, round shell. As soon as the nut is ripe, it falls to the ground, and, as the trees are often over thirty meters high, it is not surprising that the natives will avoid a strong wind!
The almond tree with white blossoms produces bitter almonds, which are used in the manufacture of flavoring extract and drugs used in medicine. Sweet almonds come from the tree with pink blossoms, which are grown extensively in Western Asia, in the Mediterranean region, and in California.
The most valuable of all nuts, however, is the coconut. At first, it grew only along the East Indies coast in the South Sea Islands, but it is now found in the tropics of all the continents. Its food value is high because it cantatas much oil and some protein.
One native English nut is the hazel, which is grown mainly in Kent. Hazelnuts lie in leafy cups in clusters of two, three, or four, and from their light brown shade we get the color “hazel”.
Where do nuts come from originally?
The story of Nuts has been well-known since the beginning of time. Nuts are found in abundance in Africa, China, and other parts of Asia, but it wasn’t until the 16th century that Europeans discovered the existence of edible nuts. From the continent of Africa, where nuts are abundant, came the first nuts that were imported to Europe.
Faq
Can you grow nuts in the UK?
Answer: Not unless you plant them in a special kind of pot. It’s amazing how many people think that the nuts grow on the trees themselves. They don’t, you have to plant them.
How are nuts grown and harvested?
Most nuts are made in the same way, with the nuts being grown in a field, then harvested and dried in the sun. Some nuts are harvested and then roasted in an oven to remove any excess oil, which is then discarded. Most nuts last for about 2-3 weeks, but some, such as cashews, pecans, and walnuts, can be preserved for longer.
Is a banana a nut?
Another popular myth about bananas is that they are a nut. However, the banana is actually a berry, and it does not contain any nuts at all.
