In-Shell Pistachios
- Akbari (Super Long Pistachio)
- Ahmad Aghaei (Long Pistachio)
- Fandoghi (Round Pistachio)
- Kalleh ghoochi (Jumbo Pistachio)
- Badami (Semi-Long Pistachio)
Shelled Pistachios
- Regular Pistachio Kernel (Shelled)
- Kal Pistachio Kernel (Early Picked)
- Green Peeled Pistachio Kernel
5 Best quality Iranian Pistachios Types
Pistachios are one of the best seeds and snacks that you can eat. They have loads of neutrinos which will guarantee your overall health. Pistachios are known as nuts but scientifically they are seeds. Green to yellow with shells seeds with delicious taste, and fun to crack snacks. Iran is one of the biggest producers of Pistachios in the world and produces high-quality pistachios.
As I said Iranian pistachios types are different. There are about 60 to 70 cultivars and genotypes of female pistachios and a large number of male genotypes in Iran, which is one of the important sources of pistachio germplasm in the world. In brief, we can categorize them into 5 groups. The groups are; round, long, and jumbo. Each of these groups has its types. The round group has a famous type which is called Fandoghi, the long group has 3 famous types which are called Akbari and Ahmad Aghaei, and Badami. the jumbo group has a famous type which is called Kale Ghoochi.
There are more pistachios in Iran but the commercial pistachios types are:
- Akbari (Super Long Pistachio)
- Ahmad Aghaei (Long Pistachio)
- Fandoghi (Round Pistachio)
- Kalleh ghoochi (Jumbo Pistachio)
- Badami (Semi-Long Pistachio)
Super Long Pistachio
Jumbo Pistachio
Long Pistachio
Round Pistachio
Flowering Time
Another division is based on flower timing and Iranian pistachios types are divided into 3 groups; early flowering, medium flowering, and late flowering. Early flowering has 2 types which are Nooghi and Kale Ghoochi. Medium flowering has 3 types which are Ohadi, Ahmad Aghaei, and Badami Zarand. Late flowering has 2 types which are Ghazvini and Akbari.
Harvesting Time
Also, Iran pistachios types can be classified based on their time of harvest. They get into 5 groups that are; very early harvest, early harvest, medium harvest, late harvest, and very late harvest. Harvest dates for very early types are 31 August, early types are 1 to 10 September, medium types are 11 to 20 September, late types are 21-31 September and very late types are 1 to 10 October.
| very early harvest | early harvest | medium harvest | late harvest | very late harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 August | 1 to 10 September | 11 to 20 September | 21-31 September | 1 to 10 October |
Pistachio Types
Why taste of Iranian pistachios is the best?
If we want to talk about quality, we should talk about pistachios trees and cultivation conditions. The origin of the pistachio tree is central or east Asia. Pistachio tree has separate male and female types and every separated tree makes one of the male and female flowers. The flowers are clustered in shape and the male flower does not have petals.
Pistachio trees should get planted in moderated or hot areas. The tree can’t tolerate cold and extremely cold weather. Pistachio trees roots penetrate the soil deeply so, it needs penetrable soil, and it takes years for the tree to get mature.
Iran has a hot and dry climate, the best climate for pistachio trees, and Iranian have harvested different types of pistachios for hundred years. Iranians know how to manage pistachio trees and cultivate the best ones.
How can we recognize Iranian pistachios types?
in Iran, there are some pistachios with different tastes, shapes, and colors. The region that pistachio grows is an important factor for the taste of pistachios. For example, Damghan pistachios have great taste and they are full of healthy fats, Qazvin pistachios have an eye-catching green color, Rafsanjan pistachios are red and taste great. These types are the most famous but there are others like; Rokanabadi, Italian, Ghanouri, Vahedi, Seyed Ali Aghaei Badami, Kaj Badami, Seif al-Dini, Crow Fang Heratif, Paper Skin, Badami Ravar, Shatabadi, Ebrahimabadi, Mumtaz Tajabadi, Hazelnut, Khanjari Ravari. Let’s introduce you to commercial and famous Iranian pistachios.
Kale Ghoochi
Kale Ghoochi is one of the most famous Iranian pistachios types. These kernels are like Hazelnut and taste great. It is an early flowering type also, they are categorized as late harvest pistachios. Flowering begins on April 7 and ends on April 12. So, the trees can get affected by spring cold winds. The harvest time of Koleghoochi pistachio is the second decade of September. Kale Ghoochi sizes are various, and they are around 18-28 ounces. Kale Ghoochi is well known as Haj Sharifi which is related to its history.
Fandoghi
Fandoghi is a famous commercial Iranian pistachio. Fandoghi can survive in most of the Iran territory and 70 percent of the Rafsanjan pistachios gardens are Fandoghi. It looks like Hazelnut too and can be found in different sizes around 28-32 ounces. The biggest Fandoghi pistachios are 24-26 ounces. It is also known as Ohadi pistachios. Most of the Fandoghi pistachios are exported to different countries around the world. These kinds of pistachios are small, and they are cheaper. Thus, these kinds of pistachios are used for bakeries and foods. The taste of pistachios is as great as others, and no evidence shows there is a tiny difference between Fandoghi and others.
Iran Pistachio Available Size
Akbari
Super Long PistachioSize
- 18-20
- 20-22
- 22-24
- 24-26
Kallequchi
Jumbo PistachioSize
- 18-20
- 20-22
- 22-24
- 24-26
Fandoghi
Round PistachioSize
- 26-28
- 28-30
- 30-32
- 32-34
Ahmad Aqaie
Long PistachioSize
- 22-24
- 24-26
- 26-28
- 28-30
Iran Pistachio Price (March, 2022)
Akbari
Super Long PistachioPrice
8.8$ – 9.4$
Kallequchi
Jumbo PistachioPrice
8.3$ – 8.5$
Fandoghi
Round PistachioPrice
7.5$ – 7.7$
Ahmad Aqaie
Long PistachioPrice
8.4$ – 8.6$
Ahmad Aghaei
Ahmad Aghaei is one most famous commercial products. India and Greek are two buyers of Ahmad Aghaei. They can weigh around 22-30 ounces. The biggest ones weigh around 20-22 ounces. They have a bright white shell and partly red kernels. This product is among the average and late-flowering cultivars in the mentioned divisions.
Akbari
The most famous Pistachios are Akbari. They are super tall and have the biggest kernels. They can weigh around 18-26 ounces. The biggest ones weigh around 18-20 ounces. Most of the Akbari shells are naturally open and they taste perfect. Ahmad Aghaei delicious pistachio kernel has a purple color and Akbari pistachio kernel has a brown and purple color. Both are very similar in terms of quality and taste.
These were commercial pistachios but there are more types that you should know them too.
Badami
Badami pistachios are like almonds. They are long and small. Mostly, It is expensive and splendid. Badami is one of the early flowering ones and since it can be harvested in the first half of August, it is one of the very early cultivars. Mainly they are used as a snack.
Sephid Nogh
Mostly, these products grow in Rafsanjan and they can tolerate more hot dry climate. They are tall types, and The harvest time of Nogh white pistachio is the third decade of September.
Ghazvini
They are related to Ghazvin province Also, they are known as Kale Bozi. These kernels are green tall and small, and they taste like other tall types.
Shah Pasand Damghan
They usually grow in the Damghan area and they are categorized as tall types.
Khanjari Damghan
Khanjari Damghan is in the shape of an almond and only the end of the two edges of its skin is similar to a dagger hence it is called dagger pistachio. They don’t have many differences with the Badami type and mostly, they get mixed.
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