Pistachio kernels

Botany and history
Pistachio trees grow best in a desert-like climate with hot days and cool nights, whereby an altitude of between 150 and 250 meters above sea level is ideal for them to thrive. 
In ancient times, pistachios were regarded as a symbol of wealth: they were presented as “green gold” as a valuable gift at royal courts, for example, and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra is said to have prized pistachios as an exquisite delicacy due to their positive effect on health and beauty.
Pistachios were cultivated over 9,000 years ago in the regions of modern-day Iran, Turkey and Syria and were brought to Italy and Spain by the Romans. It was not until the 19th century that pistachios were planted in California due to the ideal growing conditions there. 
A special feature of the pistachio tree is the alternating rhythm in which it produces yields: A year with a small harvest is followed by one with a rich harvest. These yields are synchronized in certain regions, regardless of the year of planting.

Main cultivation countries
The main areas of cultivation are California, with an average annual harvest of around 580,000 tons (pistachios in shell), Turkey with an average of 300,000 tons and Iran with an average of 180,000 tons. Green, shelled pistachio kernels come from Iran, Sicily and the region around Gaziantep in Turkey.

Processing and use
The pistachio is the only stone fruit that is already open in its natural state. The kernel of the ripe pistachio is yellow in color. To obtain green pistachio kernels, the fruit must be picked unripe about a month before the actual harvest time. At this point, the shell is still closed and is broken open by special mills. The seed coat of the kernels is then removed in hot water and the pistachios are sorted by shade of green using color scanners. 
Pistachio kernels are used in a variety of ways in the confectionery industry - as whole kernels, broken, chopped, roasted, as flour and as a paste - for example in marzipan, Mozart balls and chocolates. Dubai chocolate is very popular these days and has triggered a veritable hype for green pistachio kernels. Pistachio ice cream is one of the most popular varieties of ice cream. Green pistachio kernels also add a special flavor to meat products and are used as a topping or decoration in salads and desserts.
Both in their natural form and roasted, pistachios are rich in vitamin E and B1 as well as potassium, magnesium and iron. B vitamins play a role in reducing stress and have a positive effect on regulating sleep patterns. The unsaturated fatty acids in pistachios have been shown to reduce unhealthy LDL cholesterol in the blood and therefore also play a role in protecting against cardiovascular disease.