Pistachio basics
What Is a Pistachio? The Nut, the Flavor & the Uses
The green nut in the split shell, what it is, where it grows, how it tastes, and the many ways it's used.
Quick answer
A pistachio is the small, green edible seed of the pistachio tree, sold inside a naturally split beige shell. It has a mild, sweet, buttery-nutty flavor and a distinctive pale green color. Pistachios grow in hot, dry regions and are used for snacking, in pistachio milk and creamer, and across many desserts.
A pistachio is the small, green edible seed of the pistachio tree, sold inside a hard, naturally split beige shell. It has a mild, sweet, buttery-nutty flavor and a distinctive pale green color that carries into products like pistachio milk and pistachio gelato.
Where pistachios come from
Pistachios grow on trees in hot, dry climates. Major producers include Iran, the United States (especially California), and Turkey. The trees are well suited to arid regions. For the plant itself, see the pistachio plant.
What they taste like
Mild and sweet with a buttery, nutty character, gentler than many nuts, which is why the flavor works so well in both sweet and savory dishes. That same gentleness is what makes pistachio milk taste so approachable.
How pistachios are used
- Snacking: roasted and salted, in the shell.
- Drinks: blended into pistachio milk and creamer.
- Desserts: gelato, cannoli, cakes and more.
- Baking: as pistachio powder or paste.
Nut or seed?
Botanically it's a bit of both, a question worth its own page: see what is a pistachio, botanically. For its famous color, see why pistachios are green.