Soha pine nuts come from the stone pine trees on Mount Lebanon that stand 15 to 20 meters tall. Pine nuts are often referred to as Lebanon’s white gold. Packed with nutrients, these small seeds have a fascinating journey from the towering pine trees to our dinner tables. Let’s delve into the origins of these delightful nuts and the intricate process of their gathering.
Where Do Pine Nuts Originate From?
Pine nuts are the seeds of pine cones found in pine trees, from species like the Stone Pine (pinus pinea). These are the trees most commonly found on Mount Lebanon, where Soha nuts are hand-collected. Beyond their rich, buttery flavour, you can reap a variety of pine nut health benefits. They are champions for your heart that can help regulate your cholesterol and also play a role in balancing blood sugar, thanks to their beneficial fats and essential minerals. Pine nuts are harvested globally from roughly 20 different pine tree species that yield sizable seeds. While major exporters include China, North Korea, Pakistan, and Russia, the most flavourful nuts are also gathered in Lebanon.
Why Do Lebanese Pine Nuts Cost More?
Pine nuts are inherently expensive due to a challenging combination of labour-intensive harvesting and significant biological constraints. The collection process is arduous and often dangerous, with workers frequently needing to ascend very tall trees, sometimes without safety gear, to manually dislodge the cones. Once gathered, these cones must be dried, and then the tiny nuts are meticulously extracted from between their scales, a process that is both time-consuming and often done by hand, reflecting a truly artisanal method of collection.
Adding to the scarcity, pine trees themselves are challenging crops. They require a long maturation period of 25-30 years before they even begin producing cones suitable for harvest, and then only yield harvestable cones every two years. Furthermore, yields can fluctuate wildly depending on annual weather conditions. This consistent limitation in supply meets a high demand, particularly in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, driving up prices. This is especially true for Lebanese pine nuts, which are often perceived as superior in taste and quality to their Chinese counterparts, commanding an even higher premium.
Unlike the often mass-produced Chinese pine nuts, Lebanese pine nuts are typically smaller, more intensely aromatic, and possess a distinct, buttery flavour profile. The extensive manual labor and traditional, unmechanized methods used in Lebanon further differentiate them and contribute to their elevated cost. Additional expenses from processing, the need for specialized storage due to their short shelf life, and their status as a premium culinary ingredient all contribute to their overall high market value.
What’s The Process Of Collecting Soha Pine Nuts?
At Soha, pine nut harvesting is a manual process that begins in October and lasts for several months. The harvesting is perilous, involving workers climbing the trees using a pole with a metal hook at the end. Once in the tree canopy, they knock down the mature cones while other workers collect them on the ground.
In the spring, the cones are spread out in the sun for 2 to 5 days to dry and open. Once the cones spread open, a shelling machine is used to extract the pine nuts. At this stage, the pine nuts are not yet edible as they are covered in a black skin. To obtain edible pine nuts, the “black pine nuts” are placed in a cylindrical mill that breaks their shells and allows the white pine nuts to be extracted. The pine nuts are then sorted and cleaned manually to remove any remaining shell residue.
The Sustainable Gathering: Preserving the Future of Pine Nuts
At Soha, we are committed to sustainable harvesting practices that ensure the long-term health of our pine forests. Our skilled artisans carefully select mature cones, leaving younger cones to continue growing. This careful approach helps to maintain the delicate ecosystem of the Mount Lebanon forests. By supporting sustainable methods of pine nut collecting, you can help preserve this ancient tradition and enjoy the delicious taste of nature.
