Considered a sacred tree by the indigenous Mapuche people living in southern Argentina and Chile, Araucaria araucana is an evergreen plant that produces edible seeds or pine nuts that have long been an essential source of nutrition for the local population.
With an incredible nutritional value, these pine nuts are typically boiled or toasted, and they are used in the preparation of various traditional specialties including fermented beverages, empanadas (filled pastries), cazuela (a type of soup), sopaipillas (fritters), and purées.
During the harvest, which typically takes place between April and May, the cones containing the pine nuts are usually collected from the ground, although some gatherers also use stones or poles with curved ends to facilitate the harvesting, while others even resort to climbing up the trees to make the cones fall on the ground.
Pine nuts used to be collected for personal consumption or exchanged for other goods such as wheat or corn. Unfortunately, the conversion of Araucaria araucana’s natural habitat into open areas for livestock farming - dating back to the beginning of the 19th century - has had a considerable impact on the plant’s survival.
