A Pecan Potpourri Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hickory

The pecan tree is the largest species of the genus hickory. Hickories are native to the southern United States and Northern Mexico. Juglans are deciduous walnut trees and the Brazil nut comes from the Bertholletia Excelsa tree.

Answer: Mexico

The U.S. produces over 250 million pounds of pecans annually. Most of those come from Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, which collectively produce over three-fourths of the nation's pecans. Mexico is the second largest producers of pecans in the world. The states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora, Nuevo Leon, and Durango account for most of Mexico's pecan production.

Answer: Pralines

This describes the American style of pralines, which are sometimes made with almond or hazelnut instead of pecans. Belgian pralines have a chocolate shell with a soft filling, while French pralines are firmer and combine caramelized sugar with almonds.

Answer: The Native Americans

The French word is believed by etymologists to have been derived from one of the Native American languages, though there is some argument as to which. The Illinois and Algonquin both had the word "pakani", which is similar to the Cree word "pakan", meaning "hard nut".

Answer: Fat

The pecan's 72% fat content no doubt makes it a delicious addition to desserts. It also contain 14% carbohydrates, 9% protein, and 4% water. A one-ounce serving contains 20.4 grams of fat (1.8 grams of that saturated fat).

Answer: Vitamin D

A 100 gram serving of pecans provides 57% of the daily recommended value of Thiamine (Vitamin B1). It also supplies 48% of the DV of zinc and 17% of the DV of Vitamin B5. However, a 100 gram serving of pecans supply 0% of the DV of Vitamin D. Pecans are also rich in phosphorous (40% of DV), magnesium (34% of DV), iron (19% of DV), and B6 (16% of DV).

Answer: wrinkle nut

The explorers encountered the nut while in the areas of what are now Mexico, Louisiana, and Texas. They also referred to them by the words they used to describe walnuts. The Spaniards in turn brought pecans back to Europe.

Answer: Oregon

Texas declared the pecan its official state nut in 2001, Alabama in 1982, and Arkansas in 2009. It is also a state nut of California, along with the walnut, almond, and pistachio. In 1919, the Texas legislature declared the pecan tree to be the state tree of Texas. Georgia had not declared a state nut as of 2019, though peanuts are its state crop.

The state nut of Oregon is the hazelnut.

Answer: San Saba

Nestled in Texas Hill Country, San Saba County is the birthplace of actor Tommy Lee Jones. The county sports the "Mother Pecan" tree, has over 20 commercial growers, and shells over 28 million pounds of pecans a year. Albany and Dougherty counties in Georgia refer to themselves as "the pecan capital of the United States".

Answer: sweet potato

Almonds are popular nuts in green bean casseroles, but pecans are typically used in sweet potato casseroles. Sweet potato is often served with marshmallows as well. The pecan sweet potato pie is another popular dish combining both sweet potatoes and pecans.