Pistachios include many local name and each name represent a region shape or quality type.
However in term of shapes there are in four main groups. All types can be founded in market in raw or roasted with several production offers such as mechanically,
opened or closed pistachio, roasted and salted, roasted and salted with added lime.
Long Pistachios
The most famous local brands of long pistachio are as the following:
- Akbari: This type is the highest economic value. Its fruits are large and almond shaped. It can be harvested in late September. This is a newer variety with good yield and with long, large nuts.
- Momtaz: The fruit of this nut is almond shaped. It is very delicious compared to other types of pistachios. It can be harvested in late September.
- Badami: This nut is generally small. It mainly grows in gardens of Zarand, Kerman. It can be harvested in early summer.
- Ahmad Aghaei: This nut is rather large and its fruit is almond shaped. It can be harvested in late September. The newest commercial variety, very popular with the farmers, because of high yield and its shorter time to reach production. It is very popular in some markets like India and Greece. Production of this variety is increasing. It also has the whitest shell hue among the four.
Available sizes of Long Pistachio are 20/22, 22-24 and 24/26, with 18/20 also available in small quantities. Pistachio size unit is the number of nuts in one Once.
Jumbo Pistachios
Kaleh Qouchi: This nut is famous for being large. It is sensitive to shortage of water and its leaves are complex. This type of nut is vulnerable to cold weather in spring. It can be harvested in mid September.
On the whole Kalleh Ghouchi is not being budded anymore and production is from existing trees. Although commercially quite successful, Kalleh Ghouchi trees showed a steep drop in growth and production as they grew older than 40 years old. It is expected that the production would slowly decline.
Available sizes are 20/22, 22/24 and 24/26, with 18/20 being available in small quantities.
Round Pistachios
Fandoghi: This cultivar is the most widely available pistachio variety. Fandoghi is of round type and has the lowest shape index among the four cultivars. The reason is its limited yield, the new orchards are seldom planted with this variety.
It comes in the following sizes 28/30, 30/32 and 32/34 nuts per ounce. Size 26/28 is also available in small quantities.
Kernel Pistachio and green skinned pistachios
This type of pistachio has totally green color which is used in food industrial. Commonly use to color and flavor the ice cream, chocolate or cake.