Pine nuts 松仁 (sōng rén)

These ivory-colored teardrop-shaped nuts come from the pinecones that grow on certain varieties of evergreen trees. These nuts are high in fat and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. There are two types of pine nuts available, Italian pine nuts and Chinese pine nuts. We recommend cooking with Italian pine nuts, as the Chinese variety can have a lingering bitter taste. Italian pine nuts are sometimes referred to as pignoli nuts.