Pine nuts

Pine nuts

　　Pine nuts are the seeds of various pine species such as the Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.), the Chinese white pine

　　 P. bungeana Zucc., and the Chinese red pine (P. armandii Franch.), also known as sea pine nuts.

　　 Origin: There are small pine nuts from the Greater Khingan Mountains, which are the main ingredient in the commonly eaten sweet corn with pine nuts. Pine nuts are the fruit of the Korean pine tree, also called sea pine nuts. They contain fat, protein, carbohydrates, and more. Pine nuts are not only an important traditional Chinese medicine—long-term consumption benefits health, moisturizes the skin, and promotes longevity. Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty spoke highly of the medicinal value of pine nuts. In his Compendium of Materia Medica, he wrote: “Sea pine nuts, also called new Korean pine nuts, have a slightly sweet taste and are non-toxic; they are mainly used to treat joint wind, dizziness, remove dead skin, whiten the skin, disperse water qi, nourish the five internal organs, dispel wind and cold, supplement deficiencies in those who are weak and short of breath, enrich the five organs, dispel various winds, moisten the intestines and stomach, and with prolonged consumption, make the body light and prolong life.” They can be eaten, used as an ingredient in candies and pastries, or even as a substitute for vegetable oil. Pine nut oil, besides being edible, is also an important raw material in the varnish and leather industries. Pine nut shells can be used to produce dyes, activated carbon, and more. In short, pine nuts are a highly valuable economic resource in forested areas. China is a major exporter of pine nuts, and Yichun is the primary production area for Korean pine nuts.

　　 Properties and flavor: Pine nuts are neutral in nature and sweet in flavor. They have effects such as nourishing kidney and qi, enriching blood and moistening the intestines, lubricating the bowels for bowel movement, and moistening lungs to relieve cough.