Is it true that good pistachio nuts should have yellowish shell, purplish skin and greenish flesh?
In China, where I live, most pistachio nuts sold on the market have very white shell, and yellowish skin and flesh, like this:
Today I read some articles claiming that these pistachio nuts were so white because they had been bleached using hydrogen peroxide, and good pistachio nuts should have yellowish shell, purplish skin and greenish flesh, like this:
So, my question is: have white pistachios been bleached? What colour do pistachio nuts in your country have?
Best Answer
The natural colors for pistacio meats are green, yellow-green, purple and/or red. Shells are beige. The Kerman variety, which account for 90% of the pistachios grown in California, are yellow-green to deep green. Pistacios from Iran tend to be more in the red-purple spectrum, and are alleged by their partisans to be superior to California pistacios. Personally, I like both the Kerman and the Iranian ones I've been able to sample.
Looking at the picture, I'd say that those nuts were clearly bleached, due to the excessive whiteness of the shells. This seems to be a common practice in China, enough to cause the government to debate a ban on bleaching. Per that article and others, there is no health risk associated with peroxide bleaching, but there is thought to be a significant loss of vitamins due to bleaching.
Pictures about "Is it true that good pistachio nuts should have yellowish shell, purplish skin and greenish flesh?"
Are pistachios supposed to be purple?
Pistachios get their purple hue from anthocyanins, which are responsible for the dark hue and skin colors of many plants and flowers. Like EGCG, anthocyanins may also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Pistachios get their yellow hue from a catechin called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).What color should pistachios be?
Fortunately, pistachio is there. The pistachio nut itself is only a pale green, pleasing all the same when bits of it peep up at you shyly from the sausages and galantines in which it often is embedded.How can you tell the quality of pistachios?
Look for split shells and vivid green color. Buying quality pistachio nuts is definitely worth it if you are looking for an intense pistachio flavor, so the next time you pick up a bag, check to see where they were grown and remember to look for split shells and a vivid green nut-meat color.Should pistachio nuts be green?
Pistachios look great on the Christmas table (as well as all kinds of dishes), thanks to their many shades of green. The green colouring comes from the natural plant pigment, chlorophyll, which is the same green pigment found in fruits and vegetables like peas, cucumber and celery.4 Big Benefits of Eating Pistachios
More answers regarding is it true that good pistachio nuts should have yellowish shell, purplish skin and greenish flesh?
Answer 2
I can't tell you for sure if white pistachios are bleached or if they are another type of pistachio.
The pistachios in Belgium are like the one in your second picture, thus a bit of purple skin, with a green outside and light green/yellow on the inside. I'm not sure how to name the colour of the shell. The ingredient list is just pistachio nuts and salt.
The nuts I have now are actually from the brand Trader Joe's (which is American, I think), but the address is from Germany while the package states 'California nuts'. I will put a picture here if I open this package.
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Images: Frans van Heerden, Pixabay, Sarah Chai, Vie Studio