Hickory Nut

Hickory nuts are the fruit of hickory trees, native to North America and closely related to pecans. They have a rich, sweet, buttery flavour that’s often described as a more intense version of pecan, though they come in a much harder shell that makes them more challenging to crack.

Hickory nuts were a staple food for Indigenous North Americans and remain a valued wild-harvested food, though they’ve never been widely commercialised. The most prized species for eating are shagbark and shellbark hickory, while others can be bitter. They can be eaten raw, toasted, or used in baking anywhere you’d use pecans or walnuts.

Hickory nuts are uncommon in Australia and are primarily of interest to foragers, nut enthusiasts, and those with access to imported specialty products. The trees themselves have been planted in some Australian arboretums and gardens.