Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pines (family Pinaceae, genus Pinus). There are 115 different species of pines, but only about 20 of those species are used to harvest pine nuts for culinary purposes
Pines are evergreen trees characterized by needle like leaves and production of pine cones. Stone pines are harvested in the Mediterranean region of southern Europe.
It has been harvested for edible pine nuts since pre-historic times.
Pine nuts are rich in calories, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals and packed with numerous health promoting phyto-chemicals. Pinenuts are excellent source of B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) and folates.