Nostalgiais a heck of a drug . For those of us old enough to commemorate , redpistachiosplayed a major part in our childhood memories . Times were simpler back then : multitude call booster from landline phones , they balance their checkbooks and ate pistachio that dyed their fingers a vibrant red . As kids , we take over this off-the-wall side effect from eating a testicle ( that ’s really a member of the cashew category ) and never questioned the color . Now , on Feb. 26,National Pistachio Day , it ’s time to revisit this relic of the past and respond two burn questions : Why were pistachios dyed Bolshevik in the first place , and why are n’t red pistachios around anymore ? !
The History of the Red Pistachio
It all starts with a Syrian pistachio nut importer by the name of Zaloom who purportedly dyed his pistachio flushed to differentiate his ware from that of his competitors and obliterate any minor imperfections from harvesting . have ’s back up . The pistachio is believe to be autochthonic to the Middle East , specifically Iran , and waswidely cultivatedfrom Afghanistan to the Mediterranean neighborhood , as well as in California . While Iranian chef and writerNajmieh Batmanglijinsists Iranian ’s do n’t specifically dye their pistachio nut ( the dyed ones likely made their path to the U.S. from Syria ) , the junkie are vital to halfway Eastern civilisation .
“ For Iranians and Turks , pistachio nut playact an important role in their culture and culinary art , ” saysNajmieh , “ For them , pistachio are mundane bite ; roasted , salted and sometimes with lime juice . [ There are ] pistachio cooky flavour with rosaceous water and cardamom , pistachios with lamb braised with roseate water supply and saffron , Pistacia vera meatballs manipulate in pomegranate juice , etc . ”
Jimmy Carter, the Peanut Farmer, and Pistachios
Up until the 1970s , the majority of America ’s pistachio came from abroad;most hailing from Iran . Zaloom ’s method acting of using his red dye to make his nuts stand out finally became the identifying mark of Middle Eastern pistachios . Then , in 1979 came theIranian Hostage Crisisin which 52 American diplomats and citizen were hold in surety in Iran for 444 day . Needless to say , tension between the two res publica were extremely in high spirits during this metre , deeply affecting how the U.S. viewed Iran while underminingJimmy Carter ’s behavior of foreign insurance policy .
Carter did what any United States President in a blind drunk spot would do and imposed a act ofsanctionson Iran just after the crisis lead off . Carter began by geld off sales of Iranian crude and freeing all Iranian assets . On April 7 , 1980 , torment by the ineffectual termination of the indorsement , Carter announced he would be taking drastic measures by edit off diplomatical tie with Iran and embargo all importation from the in-between Eastern land . His embargo against Persian imports resulted in what was essentially an trade stoppage on the country ’s vivacious violent pistachios , leave the fingers of Pistacia vera - loving Americans everywhere neat .
California Saves the Day
So , where do pistachios come from now ? inadequate answer : California . Californiagrowsabout 98 percentage of pistachios sell in the U.S. , using an automatize operation assure footling to no colored imperfection on the case .
“ The seeds for all pistachios get in America ( now the largest manufacturer of pistachio , surpassing Iran and Turkey ) was originally brought to America by the section of husbandry from Kerman , Iran , ” adds Najmieh . “ The word ‘ pistachio tree ’ comes from the Persian word ‘ pesteh ’ via the Romance countersign ‘ pista . ’ Ancient Greeks referred to Iranians as ‘ pistachio eater . ’ ”
Californiaproducedaround 4.5 million pounds of pistachio in 1977 — a number that develop by 20 times only 20 years afterward . Now , California ishome to 99 percentof the body politic ’s pistachio woodlet , making it a$3.6 billion industry . Coming in at second and third in the pistachio nut - agriculturist man are Arizona and New Mexico , with an economic impact of $ 13 million and $ 3.1 million , severally .
When you ’re watching movies like " The Naked Gun " and come upon thatbrilliant scenewhere Frank ’s and Ed ’s back talk are dye red from eating pistachios in the automobile , remember where those pistachios get along from and why you no longer see them today .
