Pistachios Trees in Spain

 Most of the Spanish plantations are new (less than 20 years old). The total surface area is

estimated at some 10.000 hectares. Of these, some 300 hectares are located in Lleida. Other important plantations are located in Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura and Andalusia. The plantations have primarily been established on dry land (an estimated 8.000 hectares), although there are also plantations with deficit irrigation (an estimated 2.000 hectares).

The pistachio was introduced to Spain by the Romans and cultivated by the Arabs. In the

modern era it has vanished from our fields. After the reintroduction of the crop in the 1980’s, it has recently awakened considerable interest, particularly in zones of continental climate.

Harvest takes place anywhere from late August to early October. Between 5 and 7 years of age, the pistachio tree begins bearing fruit. A biennial bearer (a heavy crop one year and little crop the next), there appears to be no upper age limit to a tree’s viability. Once ripened, the nuts are quickly harvested, cleaned, sorted and roasted for the perfect snack or for ingredient usage.