In addition to its bluish-toned evergreen foliage, this Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis), industrially cultivated in China, visually resembles our Quebec white pine. Particularly acclimatized to our harsh winters and acidic, dry, poor soils, with no known susceptibility to disease or insects, this conifer offers the best feeding potential with the largest pine nuts of all pine species. It is the most cultivated for its production, which has been traded since prehistoric times!

Light shade for the first two years will prevent scorching. For the first 5 years, growth will be slow, then, after another 5 years of waiting, sometimes more, sometimes less, you’ll pick up your first cocottes from the ground around October. You won’t have to scale the 30-metre heights to get your hands on these resinous cones, containing an average of 120 pinions, which can be extracted with gloves. You’ll discover pistachio-sized nuts.

The Korean pine is partially self-pollinating. Cross-pollination with another specimen will increase yields. Rich in protein and oil, pine nuts, whose hint of bitterness is a perfect balance to honey baklava, are a must in Genoa pesto. The resinous aroma is frequently combined with raisins, whether in salads, tagines or simply roasted to add crunch. They even flavour Tunisian tea. You could also take advantage of their floury texture to thicken and add flavor to all kinds of preparations, such as pine nut cream.