Oh no: a pine nut shortage is going to cost us dearly
Hell no! Our pastas and salads are in danger. There is a pine nut shortage. What’s going on, and what alternatives are available to buy?
Harvest
Pine nuts, the seeds of pine species, have never been cheap. In fact, after macadamias, they are the most expensive nuts in the world. But now things are getting particularly out of hand with our favorite nut. This has everything to do with the harvest. Good and bad years alternate. This year’s harvest was mediocre, resulting in a high purchase price. For the Mediterranean variety, you’ll quickly pay five or six euros for a container (one hundred grams).
Alternatives?
The flavor of pine nuts is quite unique. And that goes especially for our favorite pine nuts, those from the Mediterranean. By that we mean Tunisia, Spain and Turkey. And perhaps the very best: the Italian pinoli. You can also find them farther afield, such as in China. Chinese pine nuts are often cheaper, but also a lot less tasty, in our opinion. The small Chinese pine nuts often leave a bitter aftertaste.
Fortunately, pine nuts can be replaced with a few other things. Especially a relief for lovers of pesto: cashews are an excellent budget-friendly alternative, and the same goes for walnuts. In the latter case, add a little brown sugar; it makes the pesto less bitter. In salads too, you can use cashews and walnuts for crunch or as a topping.
Storage
If you do go for the real deal — which we completely understand — store your pine nuts in the refrigerator. Pine nuts are sensitive to oxidation, which makes them go rancid. Lightly toasting them in a frying pan over low heat or in the oven helps, but be sure to keep an eye on them. You wouldn’t be the first person to wait far too long, only to suddenly find a pan full of burnt little nuts. Then your scarce container can go straight into the trash…
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