peruse the giving store at the Kona International Airport on the Big Island of Hawaii , I searched for just the right box of macadamia nut treat to show my kinfolk I was thinking of them during myHawaiian spa getaway . But every box I pick up displayed a sales event tag that seemed to betoken I was recollect about themtoomuch .
In other words , these macadamia - centric treat werewayexpensive . And while airport gift shops are n’t exactly known for their low-priced deals , I rapidly learned that these delightful , nutritious snack are almost always on the costly side . So what makes macadamias so costly and oh - so - addictive ?
Macadamia Nuts Are Not Actually Nuts
First thing first : Macadamias are not in reality nuts . Yes , I know , it ’s ridiculous — it ’s right there in the name for goodness ' sake . But much like Brazil nuts ( again — what is with these deceptive names ? ) , themacadamia is in fact a seed . And although they ’ve become a signature staple of Hawaiian agriculture , macadamia tree are actuallynative to Australia .
" Macadamia nuts are to begin with from Australia , but much of the early research , breed oeuvre , and tone developing were done by the University of Hawaii on the island of Hawaii , " says Glenn Sako , economic development specialist with theHawaii County Department of Research and Development . " These cultivar are suited for the Hawaii climate and do not produce the same high quality ball when grown in alien conditions . "
Why Hawaii?
" cultivar , " short for " naturalize varieties , " are specific types of flora selected and cultivated by human being . In this case , the plant is a large bushy Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree thatstarts producingmacadamia bonkers by the time it ’s about 4 or 5 years old . So how exactly did these Australian cultivar end up in Hawaii ? For that , you may give thanks William Purvis whoplanted the first macadamia treeon the Big Island in 1881 . Purvis did n’t initially intend for the tree nuts to be a hit ; he planted the trees as shelterbelt for the lucre cane field . The plants were usable and also happened to be quite pretty , but no one surmise they yield such yummy and profitable yield .
A couple of 10 afterward , the Hawaiian Agricultural Experiment Station ( HAES ) was established to getnew crop growing on the islandssince the fresh established United States soil was rely almost exclusively on pelf watch the collapse of the coffee market . In the 1920s , the government offered a five - year tax freedom on ground that was used only for macadamia tree production , but most farmer were n’t concerned . That is , until roasted macadamia tree nuts started popping up in stores and consumer go unfounded . Demand for the nuts went up and the number of trees engraft for nut production grew from 423 acres ( 170 hectares ) in 1932 to 1,086 Acre ( 440 hectare ) in 1938 . cut-rate sale fall off a bit after that , but by the 1950s , Hawaii was churning out macadamia tree goodies to nosh fans throughout the universe , and major companies were making a pretty centime off them .
Why Are Macadamias So Expensive?
While macadamia clearly have an interesting yesteryear and they taste heavenly cake in thick stratum of deep brown , do they really deserve their often extortionate price tatter ? After all , at around $ 25 a pound , they ’re reckon themost expensive nuts in the world . So what ’s the deal ?
" They are expensive because they are regarded as a ' dessert junky ' versus a commodity crop like almonds , " Sako tell . " They are not evoke on the continental U.S. so the acreage is modified . " In 2018 , macadamias made the news for a 17 per centum price increment , which Sako attributedto Hawaii ’s fixed harvest land area and a higher orbicular demand .
" It takes seven years for a macadamia nut tree to produce a harvest , " Sako says . " requirement remains high and prices are up to $ 1.20 per hammer . Despite this , there is grand imperativeness on the industry . The agricultural labor shortfall retain and that has caused wages and benefit costs to increase . Invasive pests such as the macadamia felted coccid cover to affect the orchard wellness and production . The Hawaii land prices are so eminent that orchard expansion is too costly and producers can not await for seven years . Therefore the output land area remains steady , despite the increased demand for the nut . "
Are They Actually Good For You?
High - avoirdupois foods used to be the most demonized of all kitchen staple , but thanks to current inquiry and more or less less hysteric marketing plug , such things as nuts , oils and seeds are develop their due as sizeable options .
" Macadamia nuts are high in monounsaturated fatty tissue , grim in net carbohydrates and a skillful source of fuzz , manganese and thiamin , " saysregistered dietician Danielle Bertiger , MS , RD . " Monounsaturated fatty Lucy in the sky with diamonds have been shown to lowerLDL cholesterin levels(the bad kind ) , especially when they are used in berth of saturated fatness and refined carbohydrates in one ’s diet . nett carbs are significant to consider because it clues you in on how much fiber something bear in relation to the amount of total carbohydrates stage . have more fiber is crucial to gut wellness . Copper assistance with iron preoccupancy and transport in the body while manganese and thiamin are essential for carbohydrate metamorphosis . "
And while all that sounds cracking , we still live in a society that tends to obsess over numbers . So at 203 calories and 21.4 grams of fat per serving ( a serving is about 10 to 12 junky kernel — i.e. , pure nut not douse in chocolate ) , are macadamia really a wholesome collation ?
" Although nut are high in calories , they are also pack with fibre , heart - respectable fat , protein , vitamins and minerals essential to our diet , " Bertiger read . " Having a small fistful is a filling and nutritious snack to surge you over between repast or can be used as a way to round out a repast ( i.e. on top of a salad or yogurt pipe bowl ) . They are a particularly good substitute for packaged ultra - march bite like Solanum tuberosum cow chip . Calorie for kilocalorie , an ounce of chips and an troy ounce of nuts are tantamount , but the protein and fiber in the bollock will keep you energized , full and focused . "
And even without the chocolate layer , macadamia have a decided flavor profile that will belike keep you quenched . " The delightful penchant of the macadamia egg is due to its in high spirits oil content of 72 percent , " Sako says . " Processors can determine the oil content by a air bladder test — a nut with 72 percentage petroleum will swim . If the oil content is less than that , it will sink and be disposed or used another style . "
" Do n’t fear blubber ! " Bertiger says . " They ’re crucial for hormone health , optimal brain function and concentration of many nutrients . "
