Everything about The Pecan totally explained
The
Pecan (
Carya illinoinensis, commonly misspelled
illinoensis) is a species of
hickory, native to south-central
North America, in the
United States from southern
Iowa,
Illinois and
Indiana east to western
Kentucky and western
Tennessee, south through
Oklahoma,
Arkansas, to
Texas,
Mississippi, and
Louisiana; and in
Mexico from
Coahuila south to
Jalisco and
Veracruz.
It is a large
deciduous tree, growing to 20–40 m in height (rarely to 44 m,
Pecans first became known to Europeans in the 16th century; the Spanish explorer
Cabeza de Vaca saw and wrote first about this plant. The Spaniards brought the pecan into Europe, Asia, and Africa beginning in the 16th century.
The nuts of the Pecan are edible, with a rich,
buttery flavor. They can be eaten fresh or used in
cooking, particularly in sweet
desserts but also in some savory dishes. One of the most common desserts with the pecan as a central ingredient is the
pecan pie, a traditional southern U.S. recipe. Pecans are also a major ingredient in
praline candy, most often associated with
New Orleans.
In addition to the pecan nut, the
wood is also used in making
furniture, in
hardwood flooring, as well as flavoring fuel for
smoking meats.
Cultivation
Pecans were one of the most recently
domesticated major crops. Although wild pecans were well-known among the
colonial Americans as a delicacy, the commercial growing of pecans in the United States didn't begin until the 1880s. Today, the U.S. produces between 80% and 95% of the world's pecans, with an annual crop of 150–200 thousand
tonnes. The nut harvest for growers is typically around mid-October. Historically, the leading Pecan-producing state in the U.S. has been
Georgia, followed by
Texas,
New Mexico and
Oklahoma; they're also grown in
Arizona and
Hawaii. Outside the United States, pecans are grown in
Australia,
Brazil,
China,
Israel,
Mexico,
Peru and
South Africa. They can be grown approximately from
USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9, provided summers are also hot and humid.
Pecan trees may live and bear edible
nuts for more than three hundred years. They are mostly self-incompatible, because most
cultivars, being
clones derived from wild trees, show incomplete
dichogamy. Generally, two or more trees of different cultivars must be present to
pollenize each other.
Diseases
Nutrition
Pecans are a good source of
protein and
unsaturated fats. A diet rich in nuts can lower the risk of
gallstones in women. The
antioxidants and
plant sterols found in pecans reduce high
cholesterol by reducing the "bad"
LDL cholesterol levels.
Clinical research published in the Journal of Nutrition (September 2001) found that eating about a handful of pecans each day may help lower cholesterol levels similar to what is often seen with cholesterol-lowering medications. Research conducted at the University of Georgia has also confirmed that pecans contain plant sterols, which are known for their cholesterol-lowering ability.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged this and related research and approved the following qualified health claim: "Scientific evidence suggests, but doesn't prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pecans, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease."
"This nut is an important source of
ellagic acid. Pecan nuts are a good low fat source of vitamin E and also have anti-cancer effects. They can also, if eaten correctly, lead to lower cholesterol levels."
Symbolism
In 1906, Texas Governor
James Stephen Hogg made the Pecan tree the
state tree of Texas. The story goes that Hogg had a Pecan tree planted at his grave instead of a traditional headstone, requesting that the nuts be distributed throughout the state to make Texas a "Land of Trees".
Etymology and pronunciation
"Pecan" is from an
Algonquian word, meaning a nut requiring a stone to crack. The pronunciation of pecan is a source of friendly dispute among aficionados. Some people say [pə.ˈkɑn], while others say [ˈpiː.kæn].
Further Information
Get more info on 'Pecan'.
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