Carya illinoinensis

The word "pecan" comes from an indigenous word that translates to a nut so hard that it requires a stone to crack it open.

Pecan is a large deciduous tree belonging to the walnut family. The tree originates from the central and southern parts of the United States. Today, pecans are grown in many parts of the world, but still, about 80% are grown in the USA. They became popular in Europe only in the 16th century.

During spring, pecan trees develop catkins that bear clusters of flowers. By autumn, these flowers develop into nuts that are light to dark brown, oval-shaped, and up to 8 cm in length. Pecan harvesting begins in November and lasts until December, even January. In processing facilities, pecans are cleaned of leaves, twigs, and cracked nuts, then sorted by size, and only then mechanically shelled before being packaged.

Pecans are large, crunchy, fatty nuts. They are rich in proteins, fibers, and extremely healthy for the cardiovascular system. Pecans are versatile nuts that can be consumed as a snack, raw or toasted, salty or sweet, and are used in many recipes such as pecan pies, pralines, rich ice creams...

Pecan nuts are actually not true nuts but botanically classified as fruit.

There are several excellent varieties of pecan nuts, such as Cape fear, Elliott, Moreland.

These nuts contain large amounts of zinc and vitamin B1. A handful of pecans will satisfy about 20% of the daily zinc needs, which is necessary for tissue regeneration, and 18% of the daily vitamin B1 needs, also known as thiamine, which plays an important role in supplying the body with energy, releasing sugar, and normal functioning of the nervous system.

STORING PECAN NUTS

If you don't plan to consume them immediately, it's best to put pecans in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, where they will remain fresh for several months, or you can freeze them, which will at least double their shelf life.

BUYING PECAN NUTS

The San Saba region in central Texas holds the reputation as the "world capital of pecan nuts." Pecans can be found in various forms in supermarkets and specialty stores throughout the year. Our recommendation is to buy raw whole pecans with or without shells because they are really easy to prepare as a salty or sweet snack or something else.

When purchasing, pay attention to their healthy appearance - they should be compact, uniform, and have weight when held in your hand. Pecans should not have cracks, except for natural ones, they should not have spots, and especially should not have a rancid smell.

Pecans come to the market in several categories indicating their quality.
Starting from the highest quality and also the largest, and therefore the most expensive, pecans are categorized as:

1. Mammoth Halves (large halves approx. 250 pcs in one pound - 0.45 kg)

2. Junior Mammoth Halves (slightly smaller halves up to 300 pcs/pound)

3. Jumbo Halves (halves up to 350 pcs/pound), Mammoth Pieces, Large Pieces, Medium Pieces, Extra Large Halves, Large Halves, Small Halves...

In culinary, besides in the aforementioned pies and ice creams, pecans are also used in baklavas, muffins, sprinkled on desserts, in cookies, cakes.