Nutritious and tasty, pistachios are loved all over the world! A timeless classic with a bright and lively green colour that makes them incredibly popular in gelato, the perfect snack, and the ideal companion for dishes. There is so much to unpack regarding this fantastic fruit, so if you’re a fan of pistachios, get all your questions answered with our Pistachio guide!
Where do Pistachios grow?
The way the pistachio tree grows is very rustic and gives us fruits that have been known and appreciated since ancient times. However, where does Pistachio come from? The pistachio plant is native to the Middle East, it is widely believed to be indigenous to Iran and its cultivation spreads to the Mediterranean basin between Greece and Italy. Interestingly, in the Middle East, the crack of a pistachio shell opening is considered to be a good omen.
However, nowadays, the best pistachios in the world are grown in Italy. Specifically, the region Sicily is where the cultivation of this fruit is most widespread and is thus renowned for its Bronte pistachios. Pistachios can also be found in other southern and central regions. Still, as mentioned above, the pistachio is very rustic, which means it needs the right conditions to be successfully cultivated.
Bronte pistachio – taking the world by storm
The pistachio plant is a tree that can reach an average of 5 meters in height and in certain cases can even exceed 10 meters if it is found in optimal growth conditions. Pistachios successfully grow in climates that are not too harsh or volatile, which is why the areas of central and southern Italy are ideal. Said production has been present in Sicily for some time; in fact, more than 3000 tons of pistachios are produced per year, and as a result, it has become the traditional product of this land.
How do pistachios grow?
Pistachio loves sun-filled locations and requires at least 30 degrees of temperature to grow luxuriantly and bear fruit. During the year, it must not be exposed to temperatures below 7 degrees, except in winter, when it is in vegetative rest. Therefore, it grows best in countries where winters are mild and temperatures do not drop drastically. Being a plant that loves the sun, it resists drought very well and does not tolerate abundant water irrigation as it can make the plant sick by attracting fungal diseases. In fact, irrigation is only required in spring and summer for young plants up to 8 years old, adult plants tend to only need water once or twice in particularly dry summers. The pistachio plant produces its first fruits after 4 or 5 years from being planted and ends its production after about 35 years. A single tree can produce from 10 to 25 kg of whole pistachio nuts, including the shell.
The fruit harvest takes place from August to October and is carried out gradually in several collections. The fruits are at the right degree of ripeness when the husk (the outermost part in which the pistachio is enclosed) becomes a rich dark purple colour. From this moment on, a slight vibration in the tree allows the fruits to fall to the ground for harvest. Bear in mind that even though pistachio is a rustic plant that does not require particular care if the minimum cultivation requirements are not respected, this tree could still grow luxuriantly but not bear any fruit!
How come pistachios are so popular?
One reason that could explain why the Italian staple pistachios are so incredibly popular is that their sweet, delicate, and oily taste is excellent and perfect as a flavouring for sauces, sweets, pastries, and gelato. Arguably, many fruits and nuts have the same purpose, so why are pistachios so special? Pistachio’s nutritional values are excellent: they are bursting with minerals, unsaturated fat and fibre that can help you keep your blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol under control. Additionally, they are ideal for diets as their protein and fibre can give you the best nutrition to make you feel full for longer. In a similar way to pistachio, by solely using natural ingredients, Remeo creates the best-tasting authentic Gelato that is lower in fat and calories than ice cream.
Let’s not forget about their fantastic presence at a dinner table. Our pistachio gelato will be a definite hit if you have wondered what to bring to dinner at a friend’s house or a family lunch. Our pistachio cream is nothing but sensational: made exclusively with the best high-quality Sicilian Pistachios, our gelato is entirely natural with no flavouring or colouring. Alternatively, explore our selection of ice creams, Remeo Gelato Desserts Bundles and sorbettos, ideal for every occasion. If you like creaminess, pair our rich pistachio ice cream with our staple Madagascan vanilla and Stracciatella ice cream for added chunkiness. Mmmmm, buonissimo!