And the region of origin of the pistachio is Asia
It comes to us from the pistachio tree, a shrub that was discovered and domesticated, if I may say so, in Asia between Afghanistan and Iran. This is why the Persian empire is already enjoying it several millennia ago. The gardens of Babylon themselves, a wonder of the world, had pistachio trees amid fountains and lush flowers. The Greeks also know this green fruit which could not escape the eclectic gluttony of the Romans who put it at their table as Pliny the Elder points out. Little by little the pistachio tree goes around the Mediterranean. It is grown with pleasure by the Arabs who export such exotic pistachios to colder countries and especially ours.
Arrived by Marseille, pistachios have seduced the French over time.
– Melanie Hobson / EyeEm Creative – No: 683845521
It is through the Arabs, and through Marseille that the first pistachios arrive in France. They are rare. Delivered to Marseille, it finally reached Versailles in the 17th century, where Louis XIV consumed some of them with Madame de Montespan, his royal mistress and seasoned gourmet. The 18th century put a few pistachios in stews and used them above all to make sugared almonds. The Revolution names pistachio one of the days of its new calendar. The XIX and especially the XX century will roll pistachios to the 4 corners of the world to our plates.
As an aperitif, but not only…
You can of course eat salted pistachios as an aperitif, but you can also pistachio the sausage as we do in Lyon. In the gâtinais we put it in the rabbit terrine. Pistachios can also be made into ice cream.
Health side
The pistachio is good for the heart, it is antioxidant, and it is above all very energetic. Ideal if you play sports but nature huh! No sugar or salt. Cooking is done with a lot of ingredients like pistachios, but it is mostly done with the heart.