Those who are avid bakers will know which nuts are best to use in the different breads and pastries that they make. Some folks prefer one type of nut over another because of its taste but there’s one nut that people tend to shy away from and that is the macadamia. This is not because it has an unpleasant taste. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The macadamia nut is one of the best tasting nuts in the world and that’s just one reason why it is the most expensive nut in the world.
Although the nut is native to Australia, Hawaii produces the most macadamia nuts. A contributor to the price of the nut is the fact that the kernel can be comprised of eighty percent oil. This oil, which is often used in place of mink oil, is especially useful in cosmetics and other skin care products. The macadamia tree also does not start producing viable nuts until it is seven to ten years old, giving harvesters one more reason to charge so much. And lastly, the macadamia grows within an extremely hard shell. The shell is so hard in fact, that it has been known to break nutcrackers that were designed for home use. Because of this, all macadamia nuts must be released from their shell before they are sold. All of these factors contribute to the $15 - $16 USD per pound that you can expect to pay for the Macadamia nut.
Although the nut is native to Australia, Hawaii produces the most macadamia nuts. A contributor to the price of the nut is the fact that the kernel can be comprised of eighty percent oil. This oil, which is often used in place of mink oil, is especially useful in cosmetics and other skin care products. The macadamia tree also does not start producing viable nuts until it is seven to ten years old, giving harvesters one more reason to charge so much. And lastly, the macadamia grows within an extremely hard shell. The shell is so hard in fact, that it has been known to break nutcrackers that were designed for home use. Because of this, all macadamia nuts must be released from their shell before they are sold. All of these factors contribute to the $15 - $16 USD per pound that you can expect to pay for the Macadamia nut.
Macadamia Nuts
