A registered PDO product since 1994, fystiki Aeginis, commonly known as pistachio, is one of those products with characteristic, divine taste that trademark famous Greek dishes and sweets.
In Greek, the name is fystiki Aeginis, the second word defining the region the product comes from, the Greek island of Aegina. Famous worldwide as pistachio, this small, but full of flavor Greek nut is a delicious, super healthy snack with exceptional taste.
Pistachio is the fruit of the pistachio tree (Pistacia Vera), a small deciduous tree, first observed in the 7th millennium BC in Iran, and western Afghanistan. During the Byzantine period, pistachios were very popular and were offered with wine in the taverns. Today, pistachio trees are grown in the Mediterranean basin, Asia, and America. Shelled pistachios are cultivated in many parts of Greece: Megara, Markopoulo, Fthiotida, Evia, Chalkidiki, and –of course– on the island of Aegina.
Pistachios in Greece
Pistachio trees of the “koilarati” (meaning “round”, “curved”) variety were cultivated on the island of Aegina since the end of the 19th century and then spread to the region of Attica and the rest of Greece. Koilarati is considered a high-yielding variety of superior quality that makes the nut stand out compared to pistachios from other varieties and countries.
The ideal climate of the island together with the unique soil composition lend exceptional flavor and aroma to the Aegina pistachio.
According to the data of the crop declarations from OPEKEPE (Greek Payment Authority of Common Agricultural Policy -C.A.P.- Aid Schemes) and the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, in 2021, 4,354 acres of shelled peanuts were added in Greece. Based on the same data, the total area reaches 54,873 acres.
Today on Aegina island, 3,500 acres are cultivated with 120,000 pistachio trees, making for a small percentage of the total Greek production. The founding of the local Agricultural Cooperative of Pistachio Producers dates back to 1947 and has been operating continuously until today, counting 347 members. It collects, processes and markets on their behalf 30% of the production of the Aegina pistachio.
As the demand for pistachios continues to grow, Greek exports have risen in recent years. There is a big number of brands involved in their processing and distribution, but the majority are small businesses. Nonetheless, the pistachio cultivation and trade is still considered profitable, mainly dew to the product’s high quality.
