Posted on 10/23/2024 1:32:02 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Pistachios of Aegina have been cultivated on the island since the end of the 19th century. Credit: Greek Reporter The Greek island of Aegina is internationally renowned for its pistachios, known locally as fistikia, which have been rated among the best in the world by TasteAtlas.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable.
“This amazing pistachio nut is produced from the Aegintiki variety, which has been traditionally cultivated on the island since the end of the 19th century. The first pistachio plantation here was established in 1896 by Nikolaos Peroglou, who brought the nuts from Syria,” TasteAtlas says and adds:
“The weather conditions and the soil composition give these pistachios a recognizable aroma and taste for which they are considered among the best in the world. The harvesting season begins in August when the nuts are collected with long wrapped sticks that are used to beat the branches without damaging the tree.”
Grecian Delight supports Greece
While pistachios are found around the world, the variety found in Aegina, called koilarati, is rare and exceptionally delicious.
The vast majority of the island’s pistachio trees are found on the west side of Aegina, where the land is less mountainous and the soil is dry and rich in calcium carbonate.
Surprisingly, the lack of irrigation, proximity to the sea, and unique composition of the soil on the island help to create the unique taste of Aegina’s pistachios.
Two other Greek pistachio varieties are included in the top 5 nuts, according to TasteAtlas.
“At number four are the pistachios from Megara, west of Athens. These pistachios have been produced in the Megara administrative area in the eastern part of mainland Greece for more than a hundred years. The microclimate of this area, characterized by hot summers and mild winters with low levels of precipitation, provides the ideal conditions for the cultivation of pistachios,” TasteAtlas notes.
Megara pistachios are cropped from the Megalokarpi, Fundukati, Nihati, and Kilarati varieties of the Pistachia vera tree. The nuts are sun dried, after which they are shelled and machine sorted. These pistachios are praised for their sweet taste and vibrant green color.
The pistachios from Phthiotis prefecture in central Greece are at number five in the rankings. It became a traditional crop of the area in the 1940s and 1950s, and today its production contributes significantly to the local economy. Each year, in late August to early September, the pistachios are gently shaken from the trees and their outer pink hulls are removed.
Afterward, they are dried and hand-selected. Any use of chemicals or pharmaceuticals in production is forbidden, even to prevent possible diseases from being transmitted through the soil. The pistachio has a dark green color and a very pleasant flavor, and can be either salted or unsalted, TasteAtlas says.
TasteAtlas ranks Antep pistachios from Gaziantep in Turkey at number two and Pistacchio Verde di Bronte from Catania, Italy at number 3.
Tim Walz is demanding a recount.
Pistachios are über cheap at Aldis this year. Last I looked a bit over $5/lb. Not dyed red and low salted
“Strong Production and Market Position: The U.S. continues to be the largest producer and exporter of pistachios, benefiting from expanded pistachio-bearing acreage and resilient orchards. This strong production capacity helps maintain a steady supply, which can contribute to lower prices”.
In Turkey, one of our biggest treats was to buy a big bag of pistachios. They were a lot cheaper there than they were here.
Yes, pistachios were dirt cheap in Turkey . They went well with cold beer.
Aegina is a great little island, so close to Athens that it’s great for day trips by boat. All the times I have hung out there at Agia Marina Beach I never knew Aegina was world famous for pistachios. Nice sandy beach, cold beer and good food yes, but not pistachios. Now I need to go back and verify the pistachio claim!
I’ll have to take your word for that. No beer in our little Air Force issued trailer, and I was just starting elementary school when we were assigned there. My father would put a pile on an open napkin and dig in, so, of course, I would do the same. Red-stained fingers were the rule of the day. :)
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