piñon nuts

Piñon or pine nuts are in fact not nuts but the seeds of the piñon pine tree, which is native to and common in the American Southwest. These seeds are edible and for centuries have provided and still continue to provide a reliable and nutritious source of food to the Native peoples of the area. Piñon nuts are especially abundant in the mountainous areas of New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. As pine cones burst open in the fall, the seeds fall to the ground and can be collected to be roasted, ground, or stored for the winter.