There's more to the walnut tree than just nuts, you know. Read about walnuts and try our walnut recipes.
The walnut tree's name derives from the Old English 'wealhhnutu', meaning 'foreign nut', because the trees were brought to Britain from Western Europe. Today, walnut trees are found in temperate regions across the planet and are widely cultivated; they thrive in drier countries because of their resistance to drought.
The hard wood of this attractive tree is much sought-after; its timber is used to make top-end furniture because of the rich finish, the husks are used to create dye, while the shells are used as a paint thickener and as an effective, industrial cleaning agent.
Healthwise, its most valued prize is the nut and the oil it produces; a highly nutritious food that's rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Walnut oil, though expensive, is also a highly concentrated form of these acids famed for their health-giving and disease-preventative properties.
Not only are walnuts thought to lower cholesterol, research has shown that walnut extract plays a positive role in the treatment of Alzheimer's. In Chinese medicine, walnuts are used to help the kidneys, brain and skin.
An ideal tree to grow in your garden, then? To an extent; the fallen, rotting nuts release a compound that's toxic to other plant and tree species (apple trees and tomato plants are particularly vulnerable), so keep separate.
You'll find walnuts are used in many countries' cuisines. They're commonly used in Italy and are particularly prevalent in Asian cuisines.