Have you ever wondered where the pine nuts in your favorite Mediterranean dishes come from?
While many pine nuts are imported from Asia and the Mediterranean, did you know that there are small orchards in Australia where they are grown as well?
Pine nuts come from the seeds of certain pine tree varieties, which can take years to produce. But how do these trees grow in Australia’s climate and soil conditions?
In this article, we’ll explore the origins of pine nuts in Australia and the unique characteristics of the trees that produce them.
So sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the world of pine nuts!
Where Do Pine Nuts Come From In Australia
Most pine nuts in Australia are imported from Asia and the Mediterranean, but there are also small orchards near Mt Hotham in Victoria and the Southern Tablelands in New South Wales where they are grown.
The pine tree variety that produces these nuts is called Pinus pinea, which is native to the Mediterranean region. These trees are drought-hardy and have been grown for centuries for their relatively large edible seeds. As the tree ages, it sheds its lower branches and the crown spreads into a distinctive ‘umbrella’ form, which is why it’s also known as the ‘Umbrella Pine’. It can grow up to 35 meters high and is well-suited to Australia’s marginal soils with low water requirements for highly productive land use.
Pine nuts are considered a delicacy in Mediterranean-style cooking due to their sweet, buttery flavor. Each cone holds about 50 nuts, and it takes around 18 months for pine cones to produce pine nuts. Pine nuts have a hard shell around them when extracted from the pine cones, but the center embryo is rich in nutrition.
While most pine nuts in Australia are imported, it’s exciting to know that there are local growers producing this delicious nut. These small orchards provide a viable agricultural solution for Australia’s marginal soils, with low water requirements for highly productive land use.
Introduction To Pine Nuts
Pine nuts are a popular and nutritious food that have been a part of the human diet for thousands of years. Despite their name, they are not actually nuts, but rather the edible seeds that are hidden in the overlapping scales of a pine cone. Pine nuts are produced by approximately 20 species of pine trees, with four particular varieties being the most commonly harvested: the Mexican pinon, the Colorado pinion, the Italian stone pine, and the Chinese nut pine.
Different pine species have different sized seeds, ease of cracking, and flavors. Pine nuts are highly nutritious and have been an integral part of the native diet in many parts of the northern hemisphere for thousands of years. Pine nuts have a hard shell around them when extracted from the pine cones, but the center embryo is rich in nutrition.
The majority of pine nuts available in Australia are imported from Asia and the Mediterranean. However, there are also small orchards near Mt Hotham in Victoria and the Southern Tablelands in New South Wales where Pinus pinea is grown. This tree is drought-hardy and produces relatively large edible seeds that are considered a delicacy in Mediterranean-style cooking due to their sweet, buttery flavor.
Pine nuts have a long history of use in traditional cuisines around the world and continue to be valued for their unique flavor and nutritional benefits. The growing interest in locally sourced food has led to an increase in small-scale pine nut production in Australia, providing a viable agricultural solution for marginal soils with low water requirements.
Pine Nut Production Around The World
Pine nuts are not actually nuts, but the seeds of pine trees that can be commonly found in pine cones. The species of pine tree that produce the most pine nuts around the world include Pinus koraiensis in northeast Asia, P. gerardiana in the western Himalaya, P. sibirica and P. pumila in Russia, P. armandii and P. bungeana in China, and P. pinea in Europe.
Russia is the largest producer of P. sibirica nuts in the world, followed by either Mongolia or Afghanistan, with most of it exported to China. In Europe, pine nuts mostly come from the stone pine (P. pinea), which has been cultivated for its nuts for over 5,000 years. Pine nuts have also been harvested from wild trees for far longer. The Swiss pine (P. cembra) is also used to a very small extent.
In North America, the main species of pine tree that produce pine nuts are three of the pinyon pines: Colorado pinyon (P. edulis), single-leaf pinyon (P. monophylla), and Mexican pinyon (P. cembroides). The other eight pinyon species are used to a small extent, as is gray pine (P. sabineana), Coulter pine (P. coulteri), Torrey pine (P. torreyana), sugar pine (P. lambertiana), and Parry pinyon (P. quadrifolia). Here, the nuts themselves are known by the Spanish name for the pinyon pine, piñón (plural: piñones).
In Asia, Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) is the most important species in international trade, while chilgoza pine (P. gerardiana) is widely harvested in the western Himalaya. Four other species, Siberian pine (P. sibirica), Siberian dwarf pine (P. pumila), Chinese white pine (P. armandii), and lacebark pine (P. bungeana), are also used to a lesser extent.
In Australia, most pine nuts are imported from Asia and the Mediterranean, but there are small orchards near Mt Hotham in Victoria and the Southern Tablelands in New South Wales where they are grown. Stone pines are also imported to Australia, and although expensive, they are of the best quality and can tolerate diseases and pests. Pine nuts grow well in temperate rainforests and take 15-25 years to produce seeds, with a few more years for the trees to reach peak production of seeds.
Pine Nut Orchards In Australia
Currently, there are only two commercial-scale Pinus pinea growers in Australia, with one of the orchards covering approximately 370 hectares. However, the pine nut market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8% from 2020-24, which presents a significant opportunity for Australia.
According to a Strategic RD&E Plan for an Australian pine nut industry, the development of more pine nut orchards in Australia is crucial for the industry to grow over the next decade. The plan includes a communications and extension strategy and highlights five research and development priorities for the industry to implement.
Pine nut trees can start producing cones from about year 6, but one planting in New Zealand produced its first cones after only 3 1/2 years. Each cone holds about 50 nuts, and 100 kg of cones holds about 20 kg of nuts. The kernels can be eaten raw, roasted or prepared into sweet meats, cakes, puddings, stuffings, soups, and of course the most popular usage is the Italian gourmet PESTO.
While growing pine nuts requires a lot of land and the trees can take many years to bear cones, it’s exciting to see local growers taking advantage of this opportunity in Australia. With the potential for a gross value of production (GVP) of $8 million per annum for every 1000 hectares of pine plantations, it’s clear that pine nut orchards have great potential in Australia’s agricultural industry.
Climate And Soil Conditions For Pine Nut Trees In Australia
Pine nut trees are well-suited to Australia’s climate, especially in lower rainfall areas. They can withstand long periods of dry conditions and can even grow on sandy soils or poor clay soils that can be inexpensively adapted to suit. The pH requirement for pine nuts varies between types but sits in the range of 5.1 to 7.5.
Pine nut trees prefer full sun to partial shade, and seedlings and saplings need more sun than shade to grow properly. They make good windbreaks and suit permaculture and food forests. The tree is hardy to minus 12°C, which makes it suitable for many parts of Australia.
Bunya pines, another type of pine nut tree, are also grown in Australia. They grow in the wild in only a few locations in southeast and north Queensland, where the climate is cool and moist with fertile basalt soils. If you want to grow a Bunya, you need a large garden with fertile and well-drained soil, and regular watering in drier climates.
Pine Nut Varieties In Australia
In Australia, the pine nut variety that is commercially grown is the Pinus pinea, also known as the Stone Pine or Italian Stone Pine. This variety is well-suited to Australia’s dry and cold climate, making it an ideal crop for areas with lower rainfall. The trees can be expected to start producing cones from about year 6, with each cone holding about 50 nuts.
Apart from Pinus pinea, there are no other commercial-scale pine nut growers in Australia. However, there are potential opportunities for other varieties to be grown in the country. Approximately 20 species of pine trees produce pine seeds that are large enough to harvest, with the most commonly harvested seeds coming from four particular pine tree varieties: the Mexican pinon (Pinus cembroides), the Colorado pinion (P. edulis), the Chinese nut pine (P. koraiensis), and the Italian stone pine (P. pinea).
While these other varieties have not been commercially grown in Australia yet, their potential viability in the country’s marginal soils and low water requirements make them an interesting prospect for future agricultural growth. As the demand for pine nuts continues to increase globally, it’s possible that more varieties will be introduced to Australian growers in the future.
Harvesting And Processing Pine Nuts In Australia
Harvesting pine nuts in Australia is a labor-intensive process that requires patience and a lot of hard work. The process begins when the cones are ready to be harvested, which is usually about ten days before they begin to open. At this point, the cones are carefully picked by hand and placed in burlap bags to dry in the sun for about 20 days.
Once the cones have dried, they are smashed to release the seeds inside. The seeds are then separated by hand from the cone fragments. This is a time-consuming and delicate process that requires a lot of skill and patience.
After the seeds have been separated from the cones, they still have a hard outer shell that needs to be removed before they can be eaten. This is yet another time-consuming process that requires careful attention to detail. The shells can be thin and easy to remove or thick and challenging, which can add to the overall cost of the pine nuts.
Once the shells have been removed, the pine nuts are ready for consumption or further processing. They can be used in a variety of dishes, including salads, pesto, and desserts.
In conclusion, harvesting and processing pine nuts in Australia is a challenging but rewarding process that requires a lot of hard work and patience. Despite the difficulties involved, local growers are producing high-quality pine nuts that are well-suited to Australia’s marginal soils with low water requirements for highly productive land use.