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A festive treat in the East is never complete without dried fruits and nuts. What can we say about a particularly abundant New Year's table, on which there must certainly be pistachios - "smiling nuts", which are most harmoniously suitable for celebrating the New Year. After all, this is a holiday of fun and joy, good wishes and bright hopes. In the East, this type of nuts has been revered since antiquity, considering them a symbol of well-being and prosperity, and the Chinese call the pistachio the nut of happiness. It is interesting that during the presentation of the Nobel Prize laureates are treated to champagne with pistachios.

Pistachio is one of the most ancient nuts that the history of mankind remembers. The first mention of pistachios dates back to 7000 years. BC, then trees were cultivated in the territory of modern Turkey, in the Middle East. Thanks to the Romans, they came to Europe only in the 1st century. n. e. The very name "pistachio" comes from the Arabic word "nut -" pistah. There is also an opinion that the birthplace of pistachios is the territory of present-day Turkmenistan, which is located in the very heart of the Great Silk Road, along which this culture spread to the Mediterranean, and from there to the New World.

“Smiling Nuts” are distinguished by the optimal ratio of calories, amino acids, minerals and vitamins - their low calorie content is combined with a high dose of vitamins and minerals. This was noted by Avicenna in his "Canon of Medicine", which speaks of the "very low nutritional value" of pistachio and its beneficial properties for the stomach and liver. These nuts are an excellent way to maintain vigor and vitality of the body, they are even used as a medicinal food.

Pistachios are rich in B vitamins, especially B6 - they contain almost more of this element than in beef liver. To replenish the daily intake of vitamin B6, an adult needs to eat only 10 nuts a day. Pistachios are also valued for their antioxidant properties, which are provided by phenolic compounds and the content of vitamin E. Antioxidant qualities help to preserve the youth of the body, preventing the destruction of cell walls. Also phenols accelerate cell growth and renewal. Apparently, this is why in ancient times these nuts were called rejuvenating, and in the USA they are included in the first group of products with antioxidant properties.

Pistachios are the only nut that contains lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which are responsible for maintaining good vision. These carotenoids also help build bone in the body. Among other things, pistachio is the record holder for fiber content. No other nut contains it in such quantities - 30 grams of pistachios are equal in fiber to a whole serving of oatmeal.

In ancient times, pistachio trees adorned the gardens of the most influential persons. There is a legend that the king of ancient Babylon - Nebuchadnezzar - ordered the planting of pistachio trees in his legendary hanging gardens. According to another legend, the Queen of Sheba ordered pistachios to be considered exclusively royal food and forbade commoners to grow nuts for personal consumption.

There are up to 20 types of pistachios in the world, in the nature of Turkmenistan there are two - Badkhyz pistachio and ordinary. The soil and climatic conditions of the country are favorable for the cultivation of this crop. Pistachio tolerates sharp changes in air temperature characteristic of Turkmen weather, is adapted to a minimum amount of precipitation, is resistant to diseases and harmful insects, and is unpretentious in care. In the mountainous part of Turkmenistan, natural pistachios grow in protected areas. The largest number of areas with pistachio trees is located in the south of the Mary region in the Badhyz reserve. Pistachio groves are found in Kugitang, in the Western and Eastern Kopetdag. Single trees are also found in the Central Kopetdag.

The pistachio, like the olive, is called the tree of life because it gives valuable and nutritious fruits that are stored for a long time, and at the same time it is able to grow in uncomfortable natural conditions on scarce land in the absence of watering. However, with good watering and feeding, in the best soil conditions, the plant shows an amazing property. Despite the fact that the cultivated pistachio produces large fruits, they cannot be compared in terms of the saturation of nutrients and taste characteristics with their wild relatives.

In Turkmenistan, the experience of Turkey was studied, where the institute of pistachios, Iran, China, Syria was created, research work is being carried out on crossing cultivated varieties with wild forms in order to get large fruits and preserve the taste of nuts. Scientists study the natural habitats of wild pistachio, highly appreciating its nutritional, medicinal and biogenetic value for the reproduction of cultivated forms. In total, ten plant forms that are promising for use in breeding and reproduction have been identified in man-made and natural pistachio forests in Turkmenistan.

Several years ago, a project was launched in the country to grow industrial pistachio orchards: Turkmen entrepreneurs are showing interest in this promising business.

Gozel SAKHATOVA