Yichun Korean Pine Nuts

Yichun Korean Pine Nuts

　　Pine nuts are the seeds of the Korean pine tree, also known as sea pine nuts. They contain fat, protein, carbohydrates, and more. Pine nuts are not only an important traditional Chinese medicine—long-term consumption benefits both body and mind, 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 Xinluo pine nuts, have a mildly sweet taste and are non-toxic. They are primarily used to treat joint wind (arthritis), dizziness, remove dead tissue, whiten the skin, disperse water retention, nourish the internal organs, dispel wind-dampness and cold pathogens, tonify deficiencies in those who are weak and short of breath, enrich the internal organs, dispel various types of wind and dampness, and moisten the intestines and stomach. Long-term consumption lightens the body and prolongs life.” They can be eaten as is, used as an ingredient in candies and pastries, or even as a substitute for vegetable oil. Pine nut oil, aside from being edible, is also an important raw material in the varnish and leather industries. Pine nut shells can be used to make dyes, activated carbon, and more. In short, pine nuts are a highly valuable economic resource in forested regions.

China is one of the main countries exporting pine nut kernels, and Yichun is a primary production area for Korean pine nuts.