Nuts: Common

Walnut

The walnut sits in a hard, wrinkled shell and its kernel resembles a small brain. It is rich in healthy omega-3 fats.

💡 Did you know? Because of its shape, the walnut was once thought to be ‘good for the brain’.

Hazelnut

The hazelnut grows on the hazel shrub, cradled in a leafy husk. It is the classic nut in chocolate-hazelnut spread and pralines.

💡 Did you know? A large share of the world crop comes from Turkey.

Almond

The almond is botanically the seed of a stone fruit, related to peach and apricot. It is eaten sweet, salted or as marzipan.

💡 Did you know? Bitter almonds contain cyanide and may be used only in tiny amounts.

Peanut

The peanut is not a true nut but a legume: related to peas and beans. Its pods ripen underground.

💡 Did you know? Peanuts are pressed for oil and made into peanut butter.

Cashew

The kidney-shaped cashew grows on the outside of a fleshy ‘cashew apple’. Its shell contains irritants, so it is never sold truly raw.

💡 Did you know? ‘Raw’ cashews in shops have still been gently heated.

Pistachio

The pistachio splits its shell open by itself when ripe, revealing a green kernel coloured by chlorophyll.

💡 Did you know? The half-open shell is sometimes called a ‘smiling’ pistachio.

Brazil nut

Brazil nuts sit like orange segments, dozens at a time, inside a heavy woody pod. The trees grow wild in the Amazon rainforest.

💡 Did you know? They naturally accumulate high amounts of the trace element selenium.

Macadamia

The macadamia is round, creamy and counts among the world's most expensive nuts. Its shell is extremely hard.

💡 Did you know? It originally comes from Australia.

Pecan

The pecan looks like an elongated walnut and tastes milder and sweeter. It stars in American pecan pie.

💡 Did you know? Pecan trees are native to the southern USA and Mexico.

Chestnut

The sweet chestnut (marron) sits in a spiny husk and is eaten roasted. Unlike most nuts it is starchy and low in fat.

💡 Did you know? Not to be confused with the poisonous horse chestnut!

Coconut

The coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm. Inside, white flesh surrounds the sweet coconut water.

💡 Did you know? Botanically the coconut is a drupe, not a true nut.

Pine nut

Pine nuts are the small, elongated seeds from the cones of the stone pine. They belong in pesto and are often toasted.

💡 Did you know? Harvesting them from the cones is laborious: hence the high price.