Macadamia Nuts Origin History

Macadamia nuts are more expensive than other types of nuts, but that hasn’t affected their popularity. The rich, creamy, buttery goodness of Macadamias keeps them high on the popularity list. The origin and history of these nuts are quite interesting.

Origin of Raw Macadamia Nuts

Macadamias originated in Australia. It is believed that the Macadamia trees growing in Hawaii today stem from a small group of trees in Queensland. The seeds from those trees were brought to Hawaii in the late 19th century. Hawaii is the first area where Macadamia trees were commercially grown. It takes seven years for the trees to bear their first fruit. This accounts for the difficulty in growing enough nuts to meet the demand. As more countries commercially grow Macadamia nuts, the supply should increase, and the cost of the nuts decrease.

Interesting Historical Information

Two men, one named W. H. Purvis and the other named R.A. Jordan brought Macadamia seeds from Australia to Hawaii. Usually, a discovery of something new bears the name of the person responsible for making the discovery. However, that isn’t the case with Macadamias. The two men that brought the seeds here decided to name the nut after John Macadam, a chemist, physician, and member of the Australian Parliament. Due to an untimely death, Mr. Macadam never had the opportunity to taste the nut that was named for him. There’s also an interesting story called “The Legend of the Baphal” that relates to the history of Macadamias.

Macadamia Nuts Today

People today enjoy Macadamias in various ways. Raw Macadamia nuts have a delicious buttery flavor that makes them a tasty snack item. Raw macadamia nuts are often used in cooking. However, many people prefer roasted Macadamia nuts because of their crisp texture and unique flavor. Roasted Macadamia nuts have a unique luscious that makes them a decadent treat. Salted macadamia nuts and unsalted macadamia nuts are used to elevate the flavor of snack mixes and add deliciousness to sweet and savory dishes. Salted Macadamia nuts are a flavorful solitary snack. Unsalted Macadamia nuts are great as a recipe ingredient or healthy snack. Decadent Macadamia chocolate cookies are extremely popular. Macadamia chocolate candy could be considered comfort food because of its rich, luscious goodness.