pistachios vs. Almonds - What's the difference?

Have you ever wondered about all the edible nuts out there? If you like nuts and trail mixes, or perhaps want to try more varieties, you can quickly become overwhelmed with all the options out there.

Think about it. You can go to your local grocery store and you will probably find a minimum of 5 options like walnuts, peanuts, pistachios, pecans, almonds, and more.

This is just the surface. There are many different types of nuts.

Some of the most popular nut options when it comes to looking for healthy snacks are pistachio and almond. These nuts are very good for your health and they also taste great.

But what exactly is the difference between pistachio and almond? In terms of their nutritional content, pistachios have slightly fewer calories, slightly less fat, slightly less dietary fiber, and slightly less protein, although not by a significant amount. Almonds and pistachios also have quite similar flavors, with pistachios being a bit more earthy and buttery in flavor and texture.

In this guide, we will do a complete comparison of pistachios and almonds. We will talk about what these nuts are and where they come from.

We’ll talk about the flavors and textures, and even the nutritional values of each one, so we can fully understand how they compare and how they differ.

Read on for all the details on pistachios, almonds, and more.

pistachios

Pistachios grow on trees, just like any other nut you can imagine.  Pistachios are native to Central Asia and the Middle East, but pistachios are also found in many other places, including the United States, India, and China.

In the United States, pistachios are typically grown in areas such as California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

The pistachio tree grows best in hot, dry areas, but they also need cold when dormant to flower again the following season.

The cold has to do with pollination, but these areas that we have listed tend to have the best climates and chances of success for pistachios.

Plant, cultivate and harvest

As we have already said, pistachios need warmth to thrive, but they also need cold winters when they are dormant in order to pollinate and prepare for the following season.

At first, a newly planted pistachio tree can take up to 5 years to start producing. However, when they start producing, they have a useful life that sometimes exceeds 100 years.

Pistachios are normally harvested between August and September of each year, when their hulls begin to turn from red to green.

If you’ve ever eaten or bought pistachios in the shell, the split shell is actually how pistachios are harvested. That’s how they come off the tree.

When pistachios are harvested, they are handled very carefully so as not to stain the exposed nut inside the split shell.

The pistachios are shelled and dried after being harvested, and then packaged and shipped for distribution. 

Taste and texture

What exactly do pistachios taste like? Its flavor is very subtle and delicate. Its flavor is often described as light and buttery. If you bought them seasoned with salt, that will serve to amplify all those nutty flavors. 

It is a nice, robust and crunchy dry fruit. You almost always get that satisfying crunch when you enjoy a handful of pistachios. You can buy them with or without the shell, as you prefer.

Health and nutrition

Probably one of the most important things people want to know about pistachios vs. almonds is how they compare when it comes to health and nutritional values.

Is one healthier than the other, does one have more health benefits associated with it?

Here are some basic nutritional details. This information is based on a single serving, which is approximately 100 grams of pistachios. 

• 557 calories
• 27g of carbohydrates
• 20.6g protein
• 44g fat
• 10.3g of dietary fiber
• 107mg calcium
• 4.15mg iron
• 1025mg potassium
• 1mg sodium
• Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, E
• Beta-carotene 332mg 

We’ll share a similar list of the nutritional value of almonds when we get to them.

Ultimately, you will find that pistachios are slightly lower in calories, slightly lower in fat, slightly lower in dietary fiber, and slightly lower in protein.

However, pistachios are slightly higher in carbohydrates and most vitamins, and much higher in beta-carotene. 

In short, both pistachio and almond are considered powerful nuts. Both are considered healthy.

As for the health benefits, pistachios are said to be helpful in lowering bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol.

It is also believed that they are good for preventing or reducing inflammation thanks to their vitamin content.

Pistachios contain phosphorous, which is beneficial in protecting against diabetes. They also contain B6, which can be valuable for your immune system and brain. They are high in fiber and protein. 

What you will find is that the health benefits of both are quite similar and both pistachios and almonds are recommended for healthy diets.

You don’t have to eat both, but you can alternate them or choose one or the other with similar benefits.

almonds

Almonds grow on trees and those trees can grow to be incredibly tall, up to 35 feet when fully grown. These trees are generally found in South Asia and the Middle East, climates similar to that of the pistachio.

That being said, almonds are also produced in the United States, primarily in California. When almonds are harvested, the kernel is eaten from the inside of the shell and the shell. 

Plant, cultivate and harvest

As we have said, almonds are mainly grown in hot and dry places. You will see that its temperature needs and harvest time are, again, very similar to those of the pistachio.

The almond tree thrives in Mediterranean climates , so the countries we’ve mentioned before and the California region are really the best climates for them.

When an almond tree is planted, it takes approximately 3 years for the tree to start producing. Sometimes it may take less, but this is the average time in general. This is slightly faster than pistachios, but there’s a catch.

Almond trees reach their peak around year 6 after planting. This is when they produce best and will continue to produce well after that time for the life of the tree.

The downside is that almond trees only live for 20-25 years, compared to more than 100 years for pistachios.

This requires careful planting and harvest planning and creating a rotation that continues to provide a harvest.

You will also see that the almond trees alternate their harvests in terms of their quality. For example, you may have a stellar crop one year, but the next year will likely be a lighter crop.

When almonds grow, they do so within a full shell, plus a shell. When we see them, we only have the kernel inside, which is the edible part.

Although you can buy almonds in the shell, you are much more likely to find them already shelled, dried, roasted, and ready to enjoy.

In fact, when you go to the store, you can usually find a multitude of almond flavors to choose from as well . From spicy habanero to honey roasted to dark chocolate, the options seem endless for this very popular nut.

Like the pistachio, the almonds are also harvested in the period from August to September. When the shells begin to open, it is when the almonds are collected.

Most of the time, the almonds are not plucked one by one from the tree. Instead, a machine shakes the tree, dropping the ready almonds to the ground and collecting them from there.

After harvesting, the shells are removed so that the almonds can be dried. Then they can be shipped in the shell or they can be shelled and roasted and flavored or whatever the distributor decides to do with them.

Taste and texture

We have mentioned that you can now find almonds in many flavors. You can find almost any flavor and you can find them roasted, salted, or unsalted.

Almonds don’t really need this flavor boost, but it’s a nice way to mix them up. They aren’t usually salted either, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find them salty.

The almond has a very woody and roasted flavor. It definitely has that nutty flavor, mixed with a robust earthiness. They have a slightly smoky flavor when you put them in your mouth.

Almonds are incredibly popular and people love them in their original flavor. They also enjoy the endless flavor options on the market. Almonds can be dry when it comes to texture and even flavor.

If you are curious about the different flavors, you can always flavor the almonds yourself with the seasoning or spice of your choice, or you can also buy your favorite flavor at the supermarket.

Health and nutrition

Here is a list of basic nutritional content details, based on a serving size of approximately 100 grams.

• 579 calories
• 21g of carbohydrates
• 21g of protein
• 50g fat
• 12.5g of dietary fiber
• 269mg calcium
• 4mg of iron
• 733mg potassium
• 1mg sodium
• Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, E
• Beta-carotene 332mg 

Almonds have slightly more calories than pistachios. They are also slightly higher in fat, protein, and dietary fiber content. They are also significantly higher in calcium.

At the same time, they are slightly lower in carbohydrates and iron, and tend to be lower in most vitamins, although they do contain them as well. 

What you will find is that although they have some differences in their values, both nuts are still considered powerful and are incredibly healthy for you.

They are also high in fiber and protein . Both of these things make them a recommended snack or food for healthy diets, as well as diets aimed at weight loss.

Overview of pistachio vs. almond

Finally, if you compare almonds with pistachios, you will see that both are a healthy nut option.

They both contain various vitamins and nutrients and although they may have some different levels, they have similar benefits and nutrients in them.

Almonds and pistachios have different flavors when you crunch them. Pistachios are crunchier and have a very light flavor, while almonds tend to have a harder crunch and smokier flavor.

Both nuts are a great option, so you can’t go wrong with either.