Roasted & Salted Jumbo Pistachio Nuts Suitable for vegetarians. Pistachios are predominantly natives of the Middle East, America and Central Asia. They are grown on small tender trees, under warm arid conditions. The pistachio being a smooth, twin-shelled nut, housing a small, oval, green kernel. Pistachios can be eaten raw, by removing the kernel from its shell. They are much used as a colouring and flavouring for a wide range of foods, some savoury and many sweets, including nougat and ice cream.