What are Pecans?
Pecans are the product of the hickory tree, also known as Carya illinoinensis. The trees are native to Central and Southern North America, and were utilized as a food source by Native Americans for centuries before the arrival of European colonists. The plants were not actually domesticated until the 17th century, when the first plantations of pecans were established in Mexico. The nuts have a distinctive rich, buttery flavor which often appears in Southern desserts such as praline and pecan pie. Pecans are also used in a variety of savory foods.
