Pistachio’s beat at Kyalite’s heart

On my most recent road trip in the camper we explored areas we’d never visited previously.

Kyalite? Sounds like it could be where Superman lives, but in fact it is the heart of Australia’s prime pistachio growing region.

The pistachio orchards spread as far as the eye could see, massive areas watered by the Edwards and Wakool Rivers.

This area is just a skip south of Balranald in New South Wales and like many country towns throughout Australia, the pub was ‘the centre’ of the town. Founded by Henry Talbett in about 1848, Kyalite was originally known as Wakool Crossing, most likely as the entrepreneurial Henry established a punt service to cross the Wakool River.

This enterprise was soon followed (naturally) with building an inn and general store. Amongst many diners at the inn, two blokes who were on a very long walk enjoyed a meal there in September 1860. You might recall their names – Burke and Wills.

For many years Kyalite has been an important watering hole for fishermen who love to camp on the river banks, but since the 1980’s it has become the largest area for a relatively new and growing industry of pistachio farms. The deciduous trees need very hot summers and very cold winters to produce well, and the trees take six years to produce their first nuts – 12 years to reach maturity. Pistachios are an ‘alternate’ growing crop meaning they have a lean year, then (usually) a bumper year. The trees produce either male or female flowers, so in planting out the farmers must plant a male tree upwind of the female trees. How fascinating is that?

Currently the pistachio farmers are producing about 75 per cent of our domestic production and the consumption of pistachios is growing annually as we increasing appreciate the wonderful taste of this amazing nut.

Originally grown in the Middle East, and referred to in the Old Testament, it is probably the cuisines of Persia (modern day Iran) that most strongly feature this ingredient, as a delicacy. As is often the case, it was the rich rulers of the day who were able to demand large tracts of land be devoted to the growing of pistachios, as the Queen of Sheba wanted to do. But then along rambles Alexander the Great, back in 334BC or thereabouts, and through his conquests the nut travelled to Greece, thence onto Italy and Spain. A favourite snippet I have learned in my research is that the early cookbooks (10th century) reference the quality of pistachio oil, and suggests it as a useful remedy for the treatment of scorpion stings. This may be handy information if you are off camping these school holidays!

I love pistachios not only for their flavour, but for the ping of colour they add to salads, cous cous, and all manner of ‘sweeties’ – studded into chocolate they are irresistible.

And just because I have a sweet tooth, here’s a yummy slice to make and enjoy with a coffee, or as a petit four before bedtime!