Lost in The Mix
Visit the snack nut aisle at your local grocery or convenience store, and you’ll readily find peanuts, cashews, pistachios, almonds, or macadamia nuts. Finding grab-and-go pecans may prove a bit more difficult. The buttery-flavored nut rarely gets solo billing as a snacking option but is more often used as a mixed nuts feature, leaving many unaware of its natural benefits and culinary appeal.
This unintentional snubbing is even more remarkable given its ancestry: the pecan is one of the few edible nuts native to the United States, making it part of our country’s agricultural history. Here in Georgia, the nation’s consistent top pecan-producing state, the neglected nut is due for a well-deserved boost.
Georgia’s State Nut Has Health Benefits
The pecan, Georgia’s official state nut, has both a rich history and health benefits. The pecan traces its origins to the 16th century, and the name “pecan” is derived from the Native American (Algonquin) word “pacane” which translates as ‘nut requiring a stone to crack.’” Native Americans foraged wild pecans for centuries before planting pecan trees and trading the harvest to European explorers and settlers. George Washington carried pecans in his coat pocket for a quick energy boost, and Thomas Jefferson grew pecan trees at Monticello.
Pecans are also an ideal snack for today’s health conscience consumers. They are packed with antioxidants, monosaturated fats, zinc, and vitamins B and E which offer bone support, and aid in digestion. Additionally, since pecans are lower in carbohydrates and higher in dietary fiber compared to other nuts, it is a popular feature of keto-style diets.
Pecans can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Whether eaten fresh from the shell, roasted, or used as a recipe ingredient, pecans add flavor and crunch. Enjoy them in a salad, or dessert such as butterscotch pecan ice cream or pecan pie.
It’s time for healthy eaters around the world to get to know and love our country’s indigenous nut and to be able to find it readily available in snack aisles.
Whether your next road trip is by car or by rail, it’s not really a road trip without taking Stuckey’s along. From our world famous Stuckey’s Pecan Log Rolls to our mouthwatering Hunkey Dorey, Stuckey’s has all the road trips snacks you’ll need to get you where you’re going.
For all of the pecany good treats and cool merch you’ll need for your next big road adventure, browse our online store now!
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