Top 4 European Pistachios

This is by far the most famous Greek pistachio. This amazing pistachio nut is produced from the Egintiki variety, which has been traditionally cultivated on the island of Egina 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. 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. After the best nuts are manually selected, they are taken to the hulling machines as quickly as possible. They are then sun-dried for at least three days to prevent their shells from turning black. In the last weeks of September, after the pistachio harvest, the 'Fistiki Festival' is held in the region. This celebration is enjoyed by locals and thousands of visitors, during which many pistachio-based recipes are presented. This pistachio goes great in fresh salads, alongside cured meats, and in a variety of sweets, mandolata, cakes, liqueurs, and more.Expand

Produced within the Sicilian province of Catania, Pistacchio Verde di Bronte refers to the pistachio nuts of the Napoletana cultivar (also known as Bianca or Nostrale), grown in the fertile volcanic soils around Bronte, a small town settled at the foot of Mount Etna. Since pistachio trees were brought to Italy from the Middle East, in Sicily pistachio is called frastuca, which is adopted from the Arab word fustuq. The versatile Bronte pistachios are traditionally used for preparing a wide variety of sweets and pastries such as cannoli, cassate, torroni or the famous fig and nuts Christmas cake called Bucellato Siciliano. As for savory dishes, Bronte pistachios are the essential ingredient of the aromatic pesto di pistacchi pasta sauce, and they're also used for flavoring mortadella and other charcuterie products. To indulge in many other typical Sicilian pistachio delicacies, an event not to be missed is the Sagra del Pistacchio, held every September in Bronte.Expand

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. 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 colour. Nowadays, these pistachios are gaining popularity on the international market due to their excellent quality and the hard work of the Agricultural Cooperative of Megara.Expand

This high-quality pistachio is produced in the municipalities and communes of Phthiotis prefecture. 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. They can be enjoyed plain, in salads, or in pistachio-based sweets, cakes, and yogurts.Expand