The walnut: why for 2000 years it was called the food of gods and food for the mind
Break a walnut in half - and you will see two halves strikingly similar to the hemispheres of the human brain. The ancients were sure this was no coincidence. And as it turned out thousands of years later, in some ways they were right.
Why did the ancient Romans call this nut «Jupiter's acorn» and serve it only at the feasts of the nobility?
The walnut's homeland is not Greece at all, but ancient Persia, the territory of modern Iran. From there the nut travelled along the Silk Road in both directions: east to China, and west to Greece and Rome. The Romans valued it so highly that they named it after their supreme god. In Latin the nut is called Juglans - from Jovis glans, «Jupiter's acorn».
The nut was a symbol of prosperity and fertility: it was given as a gift at weddings and scattered at festivals. Not everyone could afford it - hence its reputation as the «food of the gods».
And in the Middle Ages there was a curious belief - the «doctrine of signatures»: it was thought that if a food resembles an organ of the body in shape, then it must be good for that very organ. The walnut, with its «folds», was an obvious candidate for the role of brain food. Back then it was only a guess. Today it has unexpectedly gained a scientific basis - but more on that below.
The tree bears fruit for decades, passing its harvest from generation to generation. For many peoples, planting a walnut tree literally meant caring for one's grandchildren.
So why «walnut»?
If the nut's homeland is Persia, where does the name come from? The word «walnut» comes from the Old English «wealhhnutu» - literally «foreign nut», because it reached us through Rome. In the West it is also still called the «Persian walnut» - which is closer to the truth.
Juglans regia - «the royal acorn of Jupiter». That is exactly how the botanical name of the walnut sounds in Latin to this day.
Why it's so good for you
The walnut is a true champion among nuts for its omega-3 content (the plant-based acid ALA). On this measure it outperforms almonds, hazelnuts and cashews many times over. It also holds one of the highest antioxidant reserves of any nut, plant protein, fibre and about 65% healthy fats.
Omega-3 are exactly the «right» fats that we usually lack in our everyday diet. Our body cannot produce them on its own, so we can only get them from food. And the walnut is one of the few plant sources where there is truly a lot of them.
It is precisely the combination of omega-3 and antioxidants that is linked to two things: supporting brain function and the health of the heart and blood vessels. So the ancients, with their «food for the mind», were not so far from the truth.
That very «brain» shape turned out to be more than a trick of nature - modern studies link moderate, regular consumption of walnuts with support for cognitive function. And the daily amount is quite small: a handful, about 30 g, or around 14 halves.
What to eat it with: perfect pairs
The walnut is at its best in the company of dried fruit: the sweetness of the fruit gently balances the slight bitterness of the nut, and together they make a filling, healthy snack with no added sugar or unnecessary chemicals. Here are five combinations from our range:
How to choose and store
The walnut has one peculiarity: because of its high fat content, it can turn bitter over time if stored incorrectly. A few simple rules - and the nut will stay fresh for a long time:
Keep the nuts in a sealed container in a dark, cool place - light and heat are their main enemies. Shelled kernels last longest in the fridge, and in the hot season you can even freeze them without harming the taste. And most importantly - a good nut should smell fresh and slightly sweet, with no musty or «oily» odour.
Now is the perfect time to put together your ideal duet of nut and dried fruit.
Choose walnutsThe walnut is one of the oldest nuts in human history (7000+ years), the omega-3 champion among nuts and the ideal partner for dried fruit. A handful a day - both tasty and good for you.