List of culinary nuts ( 요리 용 넛츠 ) A culinary nut is a dry , edible fruit or seed that usually , but not always , has a high fat content . Nuts are used in a wide variety of edible roles , including in baking , as snacks ( either roasted or raw ) , and as flavoring . In addition to botanical nuts , fruits and seeds that have a similar appearance and culinary role are considered to be culinary nuts . Culinary nuts are divided into fruits or seeds in one of four categories : True , or botanical nuts : dry , hard - shelled , uncompartmented fruit that do not split on maturity to release seeds ; Drupes : fleshy fruit surrounding a stone , or pit , containing a seed ( e . g . almonds ) ; Gymnosperm seeds : naked seeds , with no enclosure ( e . g . pine nuts ) ; Angiosperm seeds : unenclosed seeds within a larger fruit ( e . g . peanuts ) . Nuts have a rich history as food . For many indigenous peoples of the Americas , a wide variety of nuts , including acorns , American beech , and others , served as a major source of starch and fat over thousands of years . [ 5 ] Similarly , a wide variety of nuts have served as food for Indigenous Australians for many centuries . [ 6 ] Other culinary nuts , though known from ancient times , have seen dramatic increases in use in modern times . The most striking such example is the peanut . Its usage was popularized by the work of George Washington Carver , who discovered and popularized many applications of the peanut after employing peanut plants for soil amelioration in fields used to grow cotton . True nuts Common hazelnut , as it grows on the treeThe common hazelnut , native to Europe and Western AsiaA slice of chestnut cake , prepared using chestnutsThe segmented kola nut , in the shell and separatedA kola nutThe following are both culinary and botanical nuts . Acorn ( Quercus , Lithocarpus and Cyclobalanopsis spp . ) , used from ancient times among indigenous peoples of the Americas as a staple food , in particular for making bread and porridge . Beech ( Fagus spp . ) American beech ( Fagus grandifolia ) , used by indigenous peoples of the Americas as food . Several tribes sought stores of beech nuts gathered by chipmunks and deer mice , thus obtaining nuts that were already sorted and shelled . European beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) , although edible , have never been popular as a source of food . They have been used as animal feed and to extract a popular edible oil . Breadnut ( Brosimum alicastrum ) , used by the ancient Maya peoples as animal fodder , and as an alternative food when yield of other crops was insufficient . Candlenut ( Aleurites moluccana ) , used in many South East Asian cuisines . Chestnuts ( Castanea spp . ) Chinese chestnuts ( Castanea mollissima ) , have been eaten in China since ancient times . Sweet chestnuts ( Castanea sativa ) , unlike most nuts are high in starch and sugar . Extensively grown in Europe and the Himalayas . Deeknut ( Corylus Dikana ) , grows in hot , excessively dry areas . An occasional garnish used in middle - eastern dishes . Hazelnuts ( Corylus spp . ) , most commercial varieties of which descend from the European hazelnut ( Corylus avellana ) . [ 16 ] Hazelnuts are used to make pralines , in the popular Nutella spread , in liqueurs , and in many other foods . American hazelnut ( Corylus americana ) , appealing for breeding because of its relative hardiness . Eastern and western beaked hazel ( Corylus cornuta ) , native to the United States . Afghan hazelnut ( Hircum nuces ) , a delicacy among the native peoples of Afghanistan and Pakistan . European hazelnut ( Corylus avellana ) , source of most commercial hazelnuts . Filbert ( Corylus maxima ) , commonly used as " filler " in mixed nut combinations . Several other species are edible , but not commercially cultivated to any significant extent . These include the cold - tolerant Siberian hazelnut ( C . heterophylla ) , C . kweichowensis , which grows in the warmer parts of China , C . sieboldiana , which grows in Japan and China , and other minor Corylus species . Johnstone River almond ( Elaeocarpus bancroftii ) , prized food among northern Indigenous Australians . Kola nut ( Cola spp . ) , from a West African relative of the cocoa tree , is the origin of the cola flavor in soft drinks . Kurrajong ( Brachychiton spp . ) , native to Australia , highly regarded as a bush food among northern Indigenous Australians . Malabar chestnut ( Pachira aquatica ) , have a taste reminiscent of peanuts when raw , and of cashews or European chestnuts ( which they strongly resemble ) when roasted . Mongongo ( Ricinodendron rautanenii ) , abundant source of protein among Bushmen in the Kalahari desert . [ 23 ] Also of interest as a source of oil for skin care . Palm nuts ( Elaeis guineensis ) , important famine food among the Himba people in Africa . Karuka ( Pandanus spp . ) , native to Papua New Guinea . Both the planted and wild species are eaten raw , roasted or boiled , providing food security when other foods are less available . Planted karuka ( Pandanus julianettii ) , cultivated species , planted by roughly half the rural population of Papua New Guinea . Wild karuka ( Pandanus brosimos ) , important food source in villages at higher altitudes in New Guinea . Red bopple nut ( Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia ) , native to the east coast of Australia . Low in fat , high in calcium and potassium . Eaten as bush food . Considered similar , but inferior to the macadamia . Yellow walnut ( Beilschmiedia bancroftii ) , native to Australia where it served as a staple food among Indigenous Australians . Drupe seeds A drupe is a fleshy fruit surrounding a stone , or pit , containing a seed . Some of these seeds are culinary nuts as well . Smoked almonds , ready for eatingSmoked almondsAlmonds ( Prunus dulcis ) have a long and important history of religious , social and cultural significance as a food . [ 30 ] Speculated to have originated as a natural hybrid in Central Asia , almonds spread throughout the Middle East in ancient times and thence to Eurasia . The almond is one of only two nuts mentioned in the Bible . Apricot kernels are sometimes used as an almond substitute , an Apricot seed derived ersatz - Marzipan is known as " Persipan " in German and is extensively used in foods like Stollen . Australian cashew nut ( Semecarpus australiensis ) is a source of food for Indigenous Australians of north - eastern Queensland and Australia ' s Northern Territory . Betel or areca nuts ( Areca catechu ) are chewed in many cultures as a psychoactive drug . They are also used in Indian cuisine to make sweet after - dinner treats ( mukwa ) and breath - fresheners ( paan masala ) . Borneo tallow nuts ( Shorea spp . ) are grown in the tropical rain forests of South East Asia , as a source of edible oil . Canarium spp . Canarium nut ( Canarium harveyi , Canarium indicum , or Canarium commune ) has long been an important food source in Melanesia . Chinese olive ( Canarium album ) pits are processed before use as an ingredient in Chinese cooking . Pili nuts ( Canarium ovatum ) are native to the Philippines , where they have been cultivated for food from ancient times . Cashews ( Anacardium occidentale ) grow as a drupe that is attached to the cashew apple , the fruit of the cashew tree . [ 39 ] Native to northeastern Brazil , the cashew was introduced to India and East Africa in the sixteenth century , where they remain a major commercial crop . The nut must be roasted to remove the caustic shell oil before being consumed . Chilean hazel ( Gevuina avellana ) , from an evergreen native to South America , similar in appearance and taste to the hazelnut . Coconut ( Cocos nucifera ) , used worldwide as a food . The fleshy part of the seed is edible , and used either desiccated or fresh as an ingredient in many foods . The pressed oil from the coconut is used in cooking as well . Gabon nut ( Coula edulis ) has a taste comparable to hazelnut or chestnut . It is eaten raw , grilled or boiled . Hickory ( Carya spp . ) Mockernut hickory ( Carya tomentosa ) , named after the heavy hammer ( moker in Dutch ) required to crack the heavy shell and remove the tasty nutmeat . Pecans ( Carya illinoinensis ) are the only major nut tree native to North America . Pecans are eaten as a snack food , and used as an ingredient in baking and other food preparation . Shagbark hickory ( Carya ovata ) has over 130 named cultivars . They are a valuable source of food for wildlife , and were eaten by indigenous peoples of the Americas and settlers alike . Shellbark hickory ( Carya laciniosa ) nuts are sweet , and are the largest of the hickories . They are also eaten by a wide variety of wildlife . Irvingia spp . are native to AfricaBush mango ( Irvingia gabonensis ) has both edible fruit and an edible nut , which is used as a thickening agent in stews and soups in West African cuisines . Ogbono nut ( Irvingia wombolu ) is similar to the bush mango , but the fruit is not edible . Jack nuts ( Artocarpus heterophyllus ) are the seeds of the jack fruit . With a taste like chestnuts , they have an extremely low fat content of less than 1 %. Bread Nuts ( Artocarpus camansi ) similarly have a chesnut taste and very low fat contentPanda oleosa is used in Gabon in a similar way to bush mango nuts , as well as to extract an edible oil . Pekea nut , or butter - nut of Guiana ( Caryocar nuciferum ) , harvested locally for its highly prized edible oil . Pistachio ( Pistacia vera L . ) , cultivated for thousands of years , native to West Asia and Asia Minor . It is one of only two nuts mentioned in the Bible . Walnut ( Juglans spp . ) Black walnut ( Juglans nigra ) , also popular as food for wildlife , with an appealing , distinctive flavor . Native of North America . Butternut ( Juglans cinerea ) ( or white walnut ) is native to North America . Used extensively , in the past , by Native American tribes as food . English walnut ( Juglans regia ) ( or Persian walnut ) was introduced to California around 1770 . California now represents 99 % of US walnut growth . It is often combined with salads , vegetables , fruits or desserts because of its distinctive taste . Heartnut , or Japanese walnut ( Juglans aitlanthifolia ) , native to Japan , with a characteristic cordate shape . Heartnuts are often toasted or baked , and can be used as a substitute for English walnuts . Nut - like gymnosperm seeds Pine nuts , in the husk , and separatedPine nuts are edible gymnosperm seeds . A gymnosperm , from the Greek gymnospermos ( γυμνόσπερμος ) , meaning " naked seed ", is a seed that does not have an enclosure . The following gymnosperms are culinary nuts . All but the ginkgo nut are from evergreens . Cycads ( Macrozamia spp . ) Burrawang nut ( Macrozamia communis ) , a major source of starch for Indigenous Australians around Sydney . Ginkgo nuts ( Ginkgo biloba ) are a common ingredient in Chinese cooking . They are starchy , low in fat , protein and calories , but high in vitamin C . Araucaria spp . Bunya nut ( Araucaria bidwillii ) is native to Queensland , Australia . Nuts are the size of walnuts , and rich in starch . Monkey - puzzle nut ( Araucaria araucana ) has nuts twice the size of almonds . Rich in starch . Roasted , boiled , eaten raw , or fermented in Chile and Argentina . Paraná pine nut ( Araucaria angustifolia ) ( or Brazil pine nut ) is an edible seed similar to pine nuts . Pine nuts ( Pinus spp . ) Pine nuts can be toasted and added to salads and are used as an ingredient in pesto , among other regional uses . Chilgoza pine ( Pinus gerardiana ) , common in Central Asia . Nuts are used raw , roasted or in confectionery products . Colorado pinyon ( Pinus edulis ) , in great demand as an edible nut , with average annual production of 454 to 900 tonnes . Korean pine ( Pinus koraiensis ) , a pine - nut yielding species native to Asia . Mexican pinyon ( Pinus cembroides ) , found in Mexico and Arizona . Nuts are eaten raw , roasted , or made into flour . Single - leaf pinyon ( Pinus monophylla ) grows in foothills from Mexico to Idaho . Eaten as other pine nuts . Also sometimes ground and made into pancakes . Stone pine , or pignolia nut ( Pinus pinea ) is the most commercially important pine nut . Nut - like angiosperm seeds Macadamia , in the huskMacadamia nuts are edible angiosperm seeds . These culinary nuts are seeds contained within a larger fruit . Brazil nuts ( Bertholletia excelsa ) are harvested from an estimated 250 , 000 – 400 , 000 trees per year . Highly valued edible nut used in the confectionery and baking trades . Excellent dietary source of selenium . Macadamia ( Macadamia spp . ) are primarily produced in Hawaii and Australia . Both species are native to Australia . They are a highly valued edible nut . Waste nuts are commonly used to extract an edible oil . Macadamia nut ( Macadamia tetraphylla ) has a rough shell , and is the subject of some commercialization . Queensland macadamia nut ( Macadamia integrifolia ) has a smooth shell , and is the principal commercial macadamia nut . Paradise nut ( Lecythis usitata ) , native to the Amazon rain forest , highly regarded by indigenous tribal people . Peanut , or groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea ) , originally from South America , has grown from a relatively minor crop to one of the most important commercial nut crops , in part due to the work of George Washington Carver at the beginning of the 20 th century . Peanut tree ( Sterculia quadrifida ) or bush peanut , native to Australia . one of the tastiest native nuts . [ citation needed ] Requires no preparation . Soybeans ( Glycine max ) are used as a nut , in addition to their use as oil seeds .