Pistachio

Actually called pistachio, Pista belongs to the cashew family. It is native to central Asia and the Middle East. Though Iran is the highest producer of the fruit- over half of the world’s production, nevertheless its existence is threatened. The seed that is consumed as dried fruit is encased within a shell.

Pistachio is a desert plant and tolerates saline soil. These can survive difficult temperatures, from -10 degrees in winter to nearly 50 degrees Celsius in summers. For the ripening of fruit into edible pistachio, long and hot summers are required. The seed is a little elongated, with a beige hard shell. The fruit inside is a drupe with mauve-colored skin and greenish flesh. The taste is salty.