The pine tree is one of the most familiar trees, both in Europe and North America, but it is mainly in the Mediterranean area where they obtain their highest importance of production and consumption.

Already appreciated by the Greeks and Romans, the pine kernel, or pine nut, is an edible nut with an exquisite flavour and high protein content. The Roman Legions carried pine kernels as provisions, and all over Europe it forms a culinary ingredient widely used in the elaboration of meat, fish and vegetable dishes as well as in the confectionery industry.

Spain, Italy, China, Portugal and Turkey are the principal producing countries of pine kernels, which are marketed in shelled form. It is basically used in the confectionery industry for the elaboration of chocolates, other delicacies and cooking purposes.

Refuse: 43%  (Shells)
Scientific Name:  Pinus edulis
NDB No: 12149 (Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion)

Nutrient Units Value per 100 grams Number of Data Points Std. Error Proximates Water g 5.90 1   Energy kcal 629 0   Energy kj 2632 0   Protein g 11.57 1   Total lipid (fat) g 60.98 1   Ash g 2.26 1   Carbohydrate, by difference g 19.30 0   Fiber, total dietary g 10.7 0   Minerals Calcium, Ca mg 8 2   Iron, Fe mg 3.06 2   Magnesium, Mg mg 234 2   Phosphorus, P mg 35 2   Potassium, K mg 628 2   Sodium, Na mg 72 2   Zinc, Zn mg 4.28 2   Copper, Cu mg 1.035 2   Manganese, Mn mg 4.333 0   Vitamins Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid mg 2.0 0   Thiamin mg 1.243 0   Riboflavin mg 0.223 0   Niacin mg 4.370 0   Pantothenic acid mg 0.210 0   Vitamin B-6 mg 0.111 0   Folate, total mcg 58 0   Folic acid mcg 0 0   Folate, food mcg 58 0   Folate, DFE mcg_DFE 58 0   Vitamin B-12 mcg 0.00 0   Vitamin A, IU IU 29 0   Vitamin A, RAE mcg_RAE 1 0   Retinol mcg 0 0   Lipids Fatty acids, total saturated g 9.377 0   16:00 g 4.416 0   18:00 g 2.011 0   Fatty acids, total monounsaturated g 22.942 0   16:1 undifferentiated g 0.250 0   18:1 undifferentiated g 21.528 0   20:01 g 1.164 0   Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated g 25.668 0   18:2 undifferentiated g 24.882 0   18:3 undifferentiated g 0.787 0   Cholesterol mg 0 0   Amino acids Tryptophan g 0.146 0   Threonine g 0.367 0   Isoleucine g 0.450 0   Leucine g 0.834 0   Lysine g 0.434 0   Methionine g 0.207 0   Cystine g 0.210 0   Phenylalanine g 0.443 0   Tyrosine g 0.424 0   Valine g 0.598 0   Arginine g 2.251 0   Histidine g 0.277 0   Alanine g 0.605 0   Aspartic acid g 1.054 0   Glutamic acid g 1.969 0   Glycine g 0.589 0   Proline g 0.622 0   Serine g 0.491 0