Pecans, also referred to as hickory nuts, are the edible nuts of the tree Carya illinoinensis. This tree is native to central and southern parts of the USA, but is nowadays grown in many regions all over the world. Pecan nuts are family of walnuts, which is particularly clear to see once peeled. The pecan’s rich, buttery flavour is also much like walnuts, yet pecans are slightly sweeter. For this reason, they are regularly used in deserts. Unpeeled, the pecans smooth spotty cap makes them easily distinguishable from walnuts, which have ribbed shells.

Pecans consist of up to 75 per cent unsaturated fat and about ten per cent protein. Furthermore, they are a rich source of minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. Pecans also contain several important B-complex groups of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates. Together, these vitamins work as co-factors for the enzyme metabolism inside the human body.