This is our Shagbark hickory tree! Our hickory tree has not always been embraced. During our busy lives and after many years of collecting the nuts and discarding them, we had an arborist come over and talk about cutting the tree down. It was in a very prominent spot in our yard and the nuts were a nuisance. When the arborist mentioned that it was his favorite tree, we realized that the best thing to do was to put a rope swing in the tree. I ran to the local hardware store and got heavy swing rope while they waited. They were gracious enough to put eye hooks on the straightest limb. Voila! Since the tree is on a slope, the addition of the swing made the tree well loved!
A few years later, after researching the shagbark nuts, we discovered that they are quite a delicacy. “They are the nobility of nuts”, the chef Odessa Piper says, “what the black truffle is to mushrooms.” The nut is simular to a pecan but tastes much better, with an incredible aftertaste. With time and patience, we learned that cracking the nuts and obtaining nut meats in one piece was very time consuming and not productive at all. But there is a quicker way to appreciate the hickory nuts incredible taste! By smashing the hard shells and nut meat, steeping in water, the nut meat and shell will separate, creating a dark, aromatic tea. After straining, the tea is ready. Enjoying the tea has become such a healthy and enjoyable routine for us to share with family and friends!
Sometimes treasures are found right in your own backyard.
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