Pähkinä

Pähkinä is the Finnish word for nut, referring to edible kernels that are enclosed in a hard shell. In everyday Finnish usage the term covers a variety of kernels from different plants, including almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, cashews, Brazil nuts, pecans, as well as the peanut and coconut. Because the culinary term is broader than the botanical category, some items commonly called pähkinä are not true nuts in a strict sense.

Botanical note: A true nut is a specific dry fruit with a hard shell and a single seed; many foods marketed as pähkinä are seeds inside fruits or edible seeds from other plant families. For example, peanuts are legumes; almonds and pistachios are seeds of drupes; coconuts grow as a fruit containing a seed inside. Nevertheless, all these kernels are eaten as "pähkinä" in culinary contexts.

Nutrition and use: Nuts are energy-dense, rich in fats (mostly unsaturated), protein, fiber, and minerals such as magnesium and zinc; they also provide vitamin E. They feature widely in baking, cooking, snacks, confectionery, and as ingredients in cereals and dairy alternatives. Allergies to tree nuts are common and can be severe.

Production and storage: Nut crops are grown in warm temperate to subtropical regions; major producers include the United States, Turkey, and parts of Europe and Asia. In households, pähkinä are stored in a cool, dry, dark place; after opening they keep longer in the refrigerator or freezer to slow rancidity. They are often sold salted, roasted, or raw, and may be ground into flour or oil.