Nut culture worldwide: How cashews, walnuts & Co. are enjoyed around the globe The world of nuts – crunchy, delicious, culturally significant
Nuts are far more than just a healthy snack. In many cultures, they are considered a symbol of prosperity, wisdom, or hospitality. They are served at celebrations, used in rituals, or are an integral part of centuries-old recipe traditions. Whether it’s the fine pistachio cuisine of Iran, the artfully spiced cashew dishes of South India, or the freshly roasted hazelnuts of Turkey – nut culture is global and diverse.
In this article, we’ll take you on a delightful journey through the world of nuts. You’ll learn:
• The role nuts play in different countries and regions
• Their traditional uses – from cuisine to cult
• Which varieties are particularly popular in which regions
• And how you can bring a piece of international nut culture home with you
Nuts as a Cultural Asset: Why They Are Important Around the World
Symbolism & History: From Sacrifice to the Gods to Superfood
Even in ancient times, nuts were considered valuable: The Greeks saw the walnut as a symbol of fertility, the Romans sacrificed almonds to appease the gods, and in ancient China, peanuts were given as lucky charms. Their long shelf life, high nutritional value, and delicate flavor made them a valuable commodity – both culinary and symbolic.
Even today, nuts accompany people around the globe through religious celebrations, family rituals, and festive occasions – from Jewish Passover almond paste to Asian wedding confections made from cashews and pistachios.
- Persia & the Middle East – Pistachios as a Royal Treasure
Pistachios – the “Green Gold” of the Orient
Iran is considered the homeland of the pistachio – and to this day, the small green kernel is more than just a snack there. In Persian cuisine, pistachios are roasted, salted, sweetened, or processed into a fine puree. No traditional celebration is complete without them!
Typically Persian:
• Baghlava with pistachio filling
• Faloodeh (rice noodle dessert with rose water and pistachios)
• Pistachio cream as a praline or dessert topping
Symbolism & Use
In Persian households, pistachios are often presented as gifts – in elegant bowls, delicately arranged. The message: “You are welcome.” They represent elegance, generosity, and pride in one’s own culture.
- India – Cashews in Curry and on Wedding Tables
From Goa to Gujarat: Cashews Everywhere
India is one of the world’s largest producers – and consumers – of cashews. Roasted cashews are a popular snack, a delicious ingredient in desserts, and a flavorful component of main courses.
Popular dishes with cashews in India:
• Kaju Masala: Tomato cashew curry with a creamy texture
• Kaju Katli: Sweet Diwali confection made from cashew paste
• Biryani: Flavored rice with a cashew crunch
Cultural Role
Cashews represent luxury and festivity – especially in confectionery. Cashew sweets are a standard feature at weddings or during the Diwali festival of lights. In South India, cashews are even used to make a fermented liquor (“Feni”) – a culinary legacy of the Portuguese colonial era.
- Turkey – Hazelnuts as a Culinary Heritage on the Black Sea
The Hazelnut – Turkey’s National Nut
Turkey is the world’s largest exporter of hazelnuts – over 70% of global production comes from the slopes of the Black Sea. It’s no wonder, then, that hazelnuts are deeply rooted in everyday Turkish cuisine.
Typically Turkish:
• Findik Ezmesi: Hazelnut butter as a spread
• Hazelnuts marinated in honey or molasses
• Baklava with hazelnuts instead of pistachios
Rituals & Traditions
In rural regions, hazelnut festivals in late summer are a highlight of the year. Music, dancing, and communal roasting of the nuts are part of the festivities. The hazelnut is considered “the fruit that feeds families.”
- USA – Walnuts & Pecans: Turning Wild Nuts into Superfood
Walnuts in American Cuisine
Walnuts play a major role in North America – both culinary and commercial. California is now the center of walnut production. American cuisine loves them roasted, caramelized, or in the famous:
• Waldorf Salad with Walnuts & Celery
• Pumpkin Pie with Walnut Crust
• Maple-Glazed Walnuts as a Snack or Topping
Pecans – The Southern Nut
The pecan nut is closely linked to the culture of the American South. The most iconic dish? Pecan pie – a buttery, sweet pie classic at Thanksgiving or weddings. In Georgia and Texas, the trees are even revered as the state tree.
- Italy – Almonds in Desserts, Culture & Poetry
Italian Almonds: More than Marzipan
Italians have a deep culinary connection with almonds – especially in desserts:
• Amaretti: crispy almond cookies with bitter almonds
• Torrone: soft honey-and-hazel nougat with almonds
• Ricciarelli: Tuscan almond cookies from Siena
Culture & Symbolism
Almond blossom festivals, such as those in Sicily, are considered harbingers of spring. In Apulia and Calabria, almond trees are interwoven in wedding rituals – almonds represent love, purity, and protection. The famous white “confetti” – sugared almonds – are offered as a wedding gift.
- China – Peanuts as a Symbol of Good Luck and Longevity
The Peanut – a Cultivated Plant with Meaning
Even though it is not botanically a true nut, the peanut plays a central role in Chinese culture – as a snack, as an ingredient, but also as a symbol:
Meanings of the Peanut in China:
• Good Luck
• Longevity
• Prolific Children
Traditional Uses
• Roasted with spices (Szechuan style)
• Fried in batter or candied
• In festive dishes (e.g., with eggplant, tofu, or glass noodles)
Peanuts are often served at weddings, New Year’s celebrations, and family gatherings – often artfully presented in small paper bags or on golden plates.
- Africa – Peanut Sauce & Street Food with Cashews & Co.
West Africa: Peanuts as a Staple Food
In many West African countries – such as Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana – peanuts (often called “groundnuts”) are part of the daily diet.
Popular Dishes:
• Maafe: hearty stew with peanut sauce
• Groundnut Soup: creamy and spicy, often with meat or fish
• Peanut snacks as street food: roasted, sweet, or spicy
Cashew in East Africa
Tanzania and Mozambique are among the largest cashew producers in Africa. Cashews are sold freshly roasted at local markets – often flavored with chili powder or lime juice.
- Latin America – Brazil Nuts & Macadamia: Pure Exoticism
Brazil & Bolivia: The Brazil Nut – Wild, Nutritious, Protected
The Brazil nut grows in the Amazon rainforests – it may not be cultivated, but is collected in the wild. It is rich in selenium, which has made it a superfood in the Western world. In its native land, it is usually eaten on its own – or used in desserts.
Macadamia in South America
In Brazil and Ecuador, macadamia nuts are also enjoying increasing popularity – often as an ingredient in energy balls, chocolate, or pralines.
- Germany & Europe – Nut Culture in Transition
Traditional Classics: Christmas Nuts & Brittle
Nuts also play a cultural role in Germany – especially during Advent:
• Walnuts in Santa’s Stockings
• Hazelnut Brittle in Christmas Cookies
• Roasted Almonds at the Christmas Market
New Trends: Street Food, Vegan Cuisine & Nut Butter
Today, nuts are experiencing a renaissance in Germany – as a source of protein, as a snack upgrade, and as a base for plant-based milk or butter. Particularly popular:
• Cashew Cream
• Almond Milk
• Pistachio Spreads
How to bring the world of nuts home
- International Cooking with Nuts
• Indian Kaju Masala with Rice
• Turkish Baklava with Hazelnuts
• Iranian Saffron Rice with Pistachio Topping
• American Pecan Pie
• African Peanut Sauce with Sweet Potatoes - Create themed evenings
Organize a “Nut World Tour” evening – each course, from appetizer to dessert, is themed around a country. Combine the whole thing with appropriate music, decorations, and drinks.
- Gift boxes with an international flair
Create your own nut box:
• Persian Pistachios
• Indian Kaju Katli
• American Caramel Walnuts
• Italian Amaretti
• African Roasted Chili Peanuts
Conclusion: The nut is a global citizen
Whether as a ritual symbol, a sweet temptation, or a salty snack – nuts have a firm place in almost every culture around the world. Their diversity is vast, their taste universally loved. They connect people, bear witness to tradition, and are simultaneously firmly anchored in modern food trends.
Whoever gives, processes, or enjoys nuts is always consuming a piece of culture – sometimes sweet, sometimes spicy, but always full of history.