WALNUTS
Walnuts are the edible seeds of trees in the genus Juglans (family Juglandaceae), especially the Persian or English walnut (Juglans regia). Botanically, they are the seeds of a drupe-like fruit. The fleshy outer covering is an involucre rather than part of the fruit wall, so walnuts are not true drupes. Walnuts were so prized in ancient Persia they were used as currency. Today, in China walnut shells are highly valued. In 2013, a pair of walnuts sold for over $40,000. Kyrgyzstan boasts the world's largest natural growth walnut forest.
Walnuts are round, single-seeded fruits.. Inside the shell is the edible kernel, which is typically divided into two halves by a thin membrane. Each fruit is enclosed in a green outer husk that becomes dry and splits open as it matures, exposing a hard, brown, wrinkled shell. Commercial walnuts usually have shells divided into two sections, although shells with three or four sections may also occur. [Source: Wikipedia ]
Shelled English walnuts contain about 4 percent water, 15 percent protein, 65 percent fat, and 14 percent carbohydrates, including 7 percent dietary fiber. A 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving provides about 654 calories and is an excellent source of manganese, along with significant amounts of several B vitamins and other essential minerals. Walnuts have been found to reduce inflammation and oxidation of the arteries by harmful fats. The kernel is covered by a thin brown seed coat that contains natural antioxidants. These compounds help protect the oil-rich seed from oxidation and slow the development of rancidity.
Walnut Cultivation, Processing and Storage
Walnuts fruits ripen between September and November in the Northern Hemisphere. After the fruits ripen, the outer husks split open and are removed to reveal the hard shells. The shells are then cracked to remove the edible kernels. In addition to English walnuts, the nuts of eastern black walnut (Juglans nigra) and butternut (Juglans cinerea) are also edible, although they are less widely consumed. Walnut trees are among the last deciduous trees to produce leaves in spring, often leafing out well after many other tree species. [Source: Wikipedia ]
The three walnut species most commonly grown for their edible seeds are the Persian or English walnut (Juglans regia), native to Iran; the black walnut (Juglans nigra), native to eastern North America; and the Japanese walnut or heartnut (Juglans ailantifolia). Other species include the California black walnut (Juglans californica), which is often used as a rootstock for commercial English walnut trees, the butternut (Juglans cinerea), and the Arizona walnut (Juglans major). Many commercial walnut cultivars have been developed, most of them derived from or hybridized with the Persian walnut.
Walnuts must be processed and stored under proper conditions to maintain quality. Poor storage can lead to insect infestations and the growth of molds that produce aflatoxin, a toxic and carcinogenic substance. Moldy walnuts should be discarded. For long-term storage, walnuts are best kept at temperatures between −3°C and 0°C (27–32°F) with low humidity. Where refrigeration is not available, they should be stored below 25°C (77°F) in dry conditions. Temperatures above 30°C (86°F) or humidity above 70 percent greatly increase the risk of spoilage, while humidity above 75 percent encourages the growth of aflatoxin-producing molds.
Walnut Forest of Arslanbob, Kyrgyzstan — the Largest on Earth
The Arslanbob walnut forests in Kyrgyzstan are among the world's largest natural walnut forest ecosystems. They are an important source of genetic diversity for walnut trees and are considered valuable for conservation and future breeding programs. Today, the forests face increasing threats from habitat loss and climate change. [Source: Researchgate]
Arslanbob is a village in the Jalal-Abad Region of Kyrgyzstan. Walnuts from this area are believed to have been Kyrgyzstan's first export to Europe. According to local legend, Alexander the Great carried walnuts from Arslanbob back to Europe, where they became the ancestors of European walnut trees. Historical and scientific evidence, however, suggests that the forests were probably established about 1,000 years ago. Another local tradition attributes their planting to Arystanbop, the founder of the village, who is believed to have died around A.D. 1120. [Source: Wikipedia
The walnut forests are part of a 60,000-hectare (150,000-acre) forest located between the Fergana and Chatkal mountains. The forests grow at elevations of 1,500 to 2,000 meters (4,900–6,600 feet) on the south-facing slopes of the Fergana Range. The Arslanbob walnut woodland itself covers about 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres), making it the largest walnut forest in the world.
The forests are threatened by cattle grazing, haymaking, excessive nut harvesting, hunting, firewood collection, timber cutting, and climate change. These activities reduce the forest's ability to regenerate naturally and threaten its long-term survival.
In September 1995, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) held a workshop at Arslanbob to discuss the conservation of Kyrgyzstan's walnut-fruit forests. The forests of Arslanbob, Kugart, and Khoja Ata once covered about 630,900 hectares (1,559,000 acres), but their area declined over time because of logging and other forms of exploitation. Following World War II, a forest research station was established at Arslanbob to study walnut cultivation and improve the production of walnuts, fruit, timber, and other forest products. Research at the station helped develop methods for establishing productive commercial walnut plantations while supporting conservation of the forests.
Walnuts in China: You Don’t Eat Them, You Roll ‘Em and Invest in Them
In China, twirling a pair of walnuts around in one's hand a persons hand like worry beads or a pair of silver balls serves as a form of hand exercise, meditation and outlet for nervous energy. Walnuts have been used as toys in China's imperial courts as early as A.D. 220, but were championed by officials during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) and have been status symbols ever since, exchanged among the country's elite. In recent years, demand for them grown as China's economy has expanded. They are especially popular among nouveau riche men and gangsters who sell them on the black market. [Source: Tom Hancock, CNN, October 14, 2014]
Aya Igarashi wrote in the Yomiuri Shimbun, “In and around Beijing, you’ll often see men rolling two walnuts in one of their hands. Called “wenwanhetao,” these are different from edible walnuts. Wenwanhetao were reportedly known as marks of status among the imperial family during the Qing Dynasty and eventually spread among common people. In addition to promoting good blood circulation by stimulating the palm, wenwanhetao can increase in market value. Shiny walnuts that have been rolled carefully for a long time are popular among people who use them. [Source: Aya Igarashi, Yomiuri Shimbun, January 6, 2015 ==]
In 2013, a pair of walnuts sold for over $40,000. Leo Lewis wrote in The Times: “In the back alley markets of southern Beijing, young men in designer clothes are taking bets on the state of this year’s crop, paying $680 “blind” for a pair of lion’s head walnuts still in their fleshy outer jackets. Connoisseurs believe the unique knobbly shapes of the nut casings work as worry beads. In 2007, a good pair of walnuts could be bought for around $30, but speculative investment and the walnut’s new status as an expensive gift means prices have exploded. [Source: Leo Lewis, The Times, September 5 2013]
See Separate Article: VEGETABLES, FRUIT AND $20,000 WALNUTS IN CHINA factsanddetails.com
Walnut Producing Countries
In 2023, global walnut production totaled about 4 million metric tons in the shell. China produced about 35 percent of the world's crop, followed by the United States, Iran, and Turkey. Specialty cultivars include the California-developed Livermore walnut, which has distinctive red kernels. [Source: Wikipedia]
World’s Top Producers of Walnuts, with Shell (2020): 1) China: 1100000 tonnes; 2) United States: 707604 tonnes; 3) Iran: 356666 tonnes; 4) Turkey: 286706 tonnes; 5) Mexico: 164652 tonnes; 6) Chile: 158000 tonnes; 7) Ukraine: 113320 tonnes; 8) Romania: 48350 tonnes; 9) Uzbekistan: 47374 tonnes; 10) Greece: 36400 tonnes; 11) France: 35700 tonnes; 12) Egypt: 24116 tonnes; 13) Argentina: 20591 tonnes; 14) Spain: 17110 tonnes; 15) Belarus: 16204 tonnes; 16) Italy: 15490 tonnes; 17) Afghanistan: 14877 tonnes; 18) Republic of Moldova: 14669 tonnes; 19) Pakistan: 14237 tonnes; 20) Azerbaijan: 12638 tonnes [Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization (U.N.), fao.org]
World’s Top Producers (in terms of value) of Walnuts, with Shell (2019): 1) China: Int.$7959363,000 ; 2) United States: Int.$1869934,000 ; 3) Iran: Int.$1013500,000 ; 4) Turkey: Int.$710234,000 ; 5) Mexico: Int.$540939,000 ; 6) Ukraine: Int.$397257,000 ; 7) Chile: Int.$388103,000 ; 8) Uzbekistan: Int.$159913,000 ; 9) Romania: Int.$156504,000 ; 10) France: Int.$110323,000 ; 11) Greece: Int.$97981,000 ; 12) Egypt: Int.$75799,000 ; 13) Argentina: Int.$58359,000 ; 14) Belarus: Int.$58179,000 ; 15) Republic of Moldova: Int.$55891,000 ; 16) Spain: Int.$55367,000 ; 17) Pakistan: Int.$46913,000 ; 18) Afghanistan: Int.$46370,000 ; 19) Azerbaijan: Int.$36557,000 ; 20) Italy: 34091,000 [An international dollar (Int.$) buys a comparable amount of goods in the cited country that a U.S. dollar would buy in the United States.]
Walnut Exporting Countries
World’s Top Exporters of Walnuts, without Shell (2020): 1) United States: 129933 tonnes; 2) Mexico: 50029 tonnes; 3) Chile: 29798 tonnes; 4) Ukraine: 28606 tonnes; 5) China: 23148 tonnes; 6) Germany: 14489 tonnes; 7) Republic of Moldova: 11915 tonnes; 8) Netherlands: 6620 tonnes; 9) Turkey: 6246 tonnes; 10) Romania: 5081 tonnes; 11) United Arab Emirates: 4840 tonnes; 12) France: 3148 tonnes; 13) Uzbekistan: 2600 tonnes; 14) Kyrgyzstan: 2386 tonnes; 15) Austria: 1428 tonnes; 16) India: 1286 tonnes; 17) Argentina: 1276 tonnes; 18) Iran: 1171 tonnes; 19) Italy: 840 tonnes; 20) Spain: 809 tonnes [Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization (U.N.), fao.org]
World’s Top Exporters (in value terms) of Walnuts, without Shell (2020): 1) United States: US$832254,000; 2) Mexico: US$491720,000; 3) Chile: US$207301,000; 4) Germany: US$138927,000; 5) China: US$116517,000; 6) Ukraine: US$88371,000; 7) Republic of Moldova: US$70721,000; 8) Netherlands: US$51968,000; 9) Turkey: US$50699,000; 10) Romania: US$28539,000; 11) Vietnam: US$26477,000; 12) France: US$25488,000; 13) United Arab Emirates: US$24184,000; 14) Uzbekistan: US$14445,000; 15) Austria: US$12755,000; 16) Italy: US$8381,000; 17) Argentina: US$7673,000; 18) Kyrgyzstan: US$6535,000; 19) Spain: US$6350,000; 20) India: US$5494,000
World’s Top Exporters of Walnuts, with Shell (2020): 1) United States: 138308 tonnes; 2) China: 72460 tonnes; 3) Chile: 65678 tonnes; 4) United Arab Emirates: 31629 tonnes; 5) Mexico: 24283 tonnes; 6) France: 20243 tonnes; 7) Turkey: 15262 tonnes; 8) Ukraine: 10357 tonnes; 9) Argentina: 4808 tonnes; 10) Australia: 4423 tonnes; 11) Kyrgyzstan: 3950 tonnes; 12) Netherlands: 3389 tonnes; 13) Belarus: 2897 tonnes; 14) Kazakhstan: 2856 tonnes; 15) Belgium: 2650 tonnes; 15) Spain: 1067 tonnes; 16) Germany: 985 tonnes; 17) Italy: 751 tonnes; 18) Iran: 750 tonnes; 19) Republic of Moldova: 674 tonnes
World’s Top Exporters (in value terms) of Walnuts, with Shell (2020): 1) United States: US$415716,000; 2) Chile: US$179040,000; 3) China: US$169420,000; 4) Mexico: US$94151,000; 5) United Arab Emirates: US$86142,000; 6) France: US$66245,000; 7) Turkey: US$43332,000; 8) Netherlands: US$13005,000; 9) Australia: US$11665,000; 10) Argentina: US$11592,000; 11) Ukraine: US$9052,000; 12) Belgium: US$8329,000; 13) Germany: US$3576,000; 14) Spain: US$3530,000; 15) Italy: US$2613,000; 16) Kyrgyzstan: US$2576,000; 17) Kazakhstan: US$1622,000; 18) Hong Kong: US$1377,000; 19) Afghanistan: US$1281,000; 20) Hungary: US$1255,000
Walnut Importing Countries
World’s Top Importers of Walnuts, without Shell (2020): 1) Germany: 45141 tonnes; 2) Japan: 18826 tonnes; 3) Spain: 15796 tonnes; 4) Netherlands: 14052 tonnes; 5) Canada: 12410 tonnes; 6) South Korea: 12074 tonnes; 7) United Kingdom: 10937 tonnes; 8) France: 10878 tonnes; 9) Turkey: 9171 tonnes; 10) Italy: 8021 tonnes; 11) United Arab Emirates: 6672 tonnes; 12) Russia: 6230 tonnes; 13) Austria: 5595 tonnes; 14) Israel: 5203 tonnes; 15) India: 4949 tonnes; 16) Australia: 4921 tonnes; 17) Kazakhstan: 4307 tonnes; 18) Brazil: 3535 tonnes; 19) Taiwan: 3508 tonnes; 20) Iraq: 3390 tonnes [Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization (U.N.), fao.org]
World’s Top Importers (in value terms) of Walnuts, without Shell (2020): 1) Germany: US$320636,000; 2) Japan: US$136947,000; 3) Spain: US$122894,000; 4) Netherlands: US$98750,000; 5) Canada: US$85134,000; 6) South Korea: US$82659,000; 7) United Kingdom: US$78509,000; 8) France: US$71794,000; 9) Italy: US$59403,000; 10) United Arab Emirates: US$39894,000; 11) Austria: US$38063,000; 12) Israel: US$34006,000; 13) Australia: US$33687,000; 14) Russia: US$28398,000; 15) India: US$28246,000; 16) Switzerland: US$26486,000; 17) Mexico: US$24164,000; 18) Taiwan: US$23841,000; 19) Sweden: US$22978,000; 20) Brazil: US$22085,000
World’s Top Importers of Walnuts, with Shell (2020): 1) Turkey: 63492 tonnes; 2) Mexico: 41543 tonnes; 3) Italy: 40879 tonnes; 4) United Arab Emirates: 34266 tonnes; 5) India: 23045 tonnes; 6) Iran: 18625 tonnes; 7) Iraq: 15696 tonnes; 8) Spain: 13547 tonnes; 9) Kazakhstan: 13024 tonnes; 10) Germany: 12881 tonnes; 11) Morocco: 12493 tonnes; 12) Vietnam: 10736 tonnes; 13) Algeria: 9248 tonnes; 14) Kyrgyzstan: 7780 tonnes; 15) China: 5526 tonnes; 16) Russia: 4776 tonnes; 17) Syria: 4034 tonnes; 18) Pakistan: 3284 tonnes; 19) Netherlands: 3122 tonnes; 20) Belarus: 2960 tonnes
World’s Top Importers (in value terms) of Walnuts, with Shell (2020): 1) Mexico: US$151284,000; 2) Turkey: US$142923,000; 3) Italy: US$119009,000; 4) United Arab Emirates: US$86823,000; 5) India: US$57012,000; 6) Iran: US$55210,000; 7) Iraq: US$45066,000; 8) Spain: US$38084,000; 9) Germany: US$36381,000; 10) Morocco: US$35459,000; 11) Vietnam: US$29167,000; 12) Algeria: US$26735,000; 13) China: US$14993,000; 14) Kazakhstan: US$11941,000; 15) Syria: US$10797,000; 16) Belgium: US$8936,000; 17) Netherlands: US$8269,000; 18) Saudi Arabia: US$7688,000; 19) Russia: US$6503,000; 20) Pakistan: US$6210,000
Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons
Text Sources: Food and Agriculture Organization, Wikipedia., New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Time, Reuters, Associated Press, Lonely Planet Guides, and various books and other publications.
Last updated July 2026