Pecan trees are native to North America and it is close related to the well known walnut tree.

Pecan term comes from the Algonquin Indian word paccan or pakan, meaning a nut with a shell so hard that it can only be broken with stones. Pecan became known in Europe in the XVI century, in 1792 when the explorer Cabeza de Vaca saw and wrote first about this new tree species.

According to the official Spanish were the ones who brought the pecan in Europe, Asia and Africa at the beginning of century 16th. The flavor of the pecan is considered by most nut gourmets to have a plumpness and juicy sweetness that is superior to all other nuts, without exception. The pecan kernel is unique, because it contains an extremely high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acid, and oils which are high in antioxidants. This oil is so concentrated that if a match is lit nearby, the kernel will flame up and is consumed by its own oils held within. Pecan is an excellent source of protein and unsaturated fats. According to researchers, pecan contains more antioxidants than any other nuts, followed by hazelnuts and walnuts.

These antioxidants are very important because it helps prevent and reduce oxidative stress that interferes in a healthy body by attacking cells that can lead to the formation of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. High concentration of vitamin A in the pecan is welcome when you want to protect our eyes, bones and teeth or to improve our general health. Also, frequent consumption in moderate amounts of pecan lowers bad cholesterol that harms our body.

Pine nuts are edible seeds of pine. In the world there are approximately 20 species of pine trees that produce these edible seeds. The habit of consumption of these seeds dated from the time the Romans and Greeks, who used to keep them fresh by mixing them with honey.

Currently, these pine nuts are to be found all over the world, under different names such as Indian nuts, pinon, pignon, pignolia, pignoli, pinolos, pinhao, pignole and are used especially in preparing different types of salads, as well as an ingredient in various delicious desserts. Most frequently, pine nuts are harvested mostly from four different species of trees encountered in Mexico, the Colorado area, Italy and China. In order for a pine tree to reach production of seeds, it is necessary to wait from 15 to 25 years after planting.

The harvest of the pine nuts is done manually, which requires higher costs and selling them high prices on the market. In terms of nutritional information, pine nuts may contain between 10% - 34% protein, depending on the species and provide important fiber to our body. Also, an oil with a lighter taste of nuts is produced by cold pressing the pine seeds. The pine oil is appreciated for its beneficial effect due to anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Initially known as ornamental plants, the Macadamia shrubs have become a real treasure after their discovery in 1857 by John Macadam, after whom they were named. Before the 19th century, these nuts were known only by the native population of Australia, who ate them but didn’t cultivate the shrubs.

Only two of the nine existing Macadamia species produce the famous nuts, the most expensive in the world. Native to Australia, the Macadamia shrubs were planted for the first time for a commercial purpose in Hawaii. Now, Hawaii is one of the biggest sources of Macadamia nuts in the world, while the United States the most important consumer. Other important Macadamia importers in the world are South Africa, Central America and Australia – the largest source in the world for the precious nuts.

The success of a Macadamia plantation is strongly related to the choice of a favorable soil, the shrubs being known to prefer sunny subtropical regions. It is also important that the soil is well-drained and that the plants are sheltered from strong wind.

The harvest process is rather complex: the first step is the removal of the green husk, followed by the most difficult part – the cracking of the nut shells. The high price of the famous Macadamia nuts can only be justified by the fact that the shrubs produce nuts only after 7-10 years, but also because their shell is very hard and it must be removed before they are sold. The shell is so hard that it can not be cracked with a usual nut cracker. For that purpose machines are used to sort the nuts according to their quality after the shells are cracked and removed.

Afterwards they can be eaten raw, roasted or coated in chocolate. Macadamia nuts are not only valued for their rich flavor, but also for their oil, the nuts containing up to 80% oil. It is used in the production of cosmetics, particularly skin care products, being a real alternative to mink oil.

Walnuts are some of the most venerable aliments in the history of humanity. Archaeological research has brought to light fossilized walnut shells in settlements dating back to the Neolithic, over 8,000 years ago. From the Mesopotamian culture there were left inscriptions on clay tablets proving the existence of walnuts in the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Walnuts are also mentioned in the Greek mythology, where it is said that the god Dionysus turned his lover Carya into a walnut tree out of love when she died. The columns of the temple built in her memory, carved in wood and having the shape of young women became known as caryatids, a Greek architectural expression known even today. Walnuts are the fruit of a towering tree growing up to 40 meters high when it reaches maturity.

The 21 species of walnut trees are spread around the globe across the European and American continents, and even Japan. The most popular species of walnut tree is found in the Balkan region and in southern China. Another species, the black walnut, is cultivated mainly for its wood and less for its fruit.

The wood of the black walnut tree, which is a hardwood, is extremely valued in the furniture industry. Due to its dense granulation and its hardness, the walnut tree wood is the perfect choice for the manufacturing of gunstock and various resistant instruments. Being extremely difficult to process, this type of wood has always been considered to be a premium choice. All types of walnuts are edible, but the ones sold in stores come from the European species, the fruit of which have the most generous dimensions and the thinnest shell.

Walnuts are eaten as a snack or as an ingredient in various types of foods. They are rich in oil, which is used in Mediterranean diets, particularly for the preparation of salads. This oil is also used in painting for its transparency and gloss. Modern medicine and studies have proven the unmatched qualities of nuts. They are an excellent source for the Omega-3 fatty acids, a fat essential for the body that helps reduce cholesterol.

The supply of Omega-3 is extremely important because the human body cannot produce these substances and therefore they must be obtained from food. In the Chinese traditional medicine, walnuts are considered curative plants; it is a known fact that they help invigorate the kidneys, strengthen the joints and improve digestion. It is also considered that the consumption of walnuts ameliorates asthma crises.