The Deep Roots Of Piñon
In New Mexico

By Rebekah Powers | October 2024

This year Chimayo Trading is adding piñon nuts to our fall offerings. After many years of decline, a bumper crop of this small power packed nut has created a flurry of excitement in Northern New Mexico, and we want to share!

The piñon nut has long held a special place in the culture and history of New Mexico. Euell Gibbons once referred to it as “the most palatable wild food,” a sentiment echoed by those who have lived in or visited the region. As you near Santa Fe and Taos, the landscape shifts, and the air takes on the unmistakable fragrance of piñon pine, a smell that signals your arrival in this unique part of the country. The scent of piñon wood burning is a common experience in historic Taos, blending with the local culture in a deeply authentic way. Many shops celebrate this regional treasure by offering piñon-infused specialties like candies, roasted nuts with chile, piñon brittle, and piñon coffee.

The piñon tree and its seeds have deep roots in the traditions and survival of Southwestern Indigenous cultures. Historical records show that piñon nuts were a significant source of protein for many of the Native American tribes. Beyond their nutritional value, piñon branches were used in ceremonies, including being burned as smudge sticks, and the trees played a role in spiritual practices. For the Navajo people, the economic impact of piñon harvesting in the 1930s was profound, surpassing the income earned from traditional crafts like weaving and silverwork. This year’s harvest has proven to be an economic boon for the folks on the navajo reservation, which is where the pinon we are offering has been sourced.

The piñon tree itself, known scientifically as Pinus edulis, goes by several names depending on the region, such as Colorado piñon, New Mexico piñon, and Rocky Mountain piñon. It is a small, slow-growing tree that can live for centuries—some live up to 1,000 years. These hardy trees are found primarily in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. Their resilience and longevity make them icons of the Southwest, surviving in arid, rugged terrain. Birds, particularly the Pinyon Jay and Clark’s Nutcracker, play a crucial role in dispersing the seeds, ensuring the species’ survival.

Though the piñon nut is prized for its culinary uses, the tree’s wood also holds a special place in the region’s culture. The wood’s distinctive, aromatic scent is beloved in local homes, and it is favored for outdoor fires and chimineas due to its excellent burning properties, sometimes compared to hardwood.

For centuries, the piñon tree has been more than just a source of food and firewood. Native American tribes used the tree’s sap for practical purposes like mending pottery, waterproofing baskets, and as an adhesive. The needles were brewed into a tea believed to prevent scurvy, while the inner bark had medicinal uses, such as treating burns or skin ailments. Today, piñon-derived products, including natural salves, are still valued for their antiseptic qualities.

“Old Piñon Tree” by Gene Kloss, (1903-1996), Navajo Piñon Pitch Pot By Rose Williams (1915-2015)

In modern times, piñon nuts are celebrated for their nutritional value. They are rich in protein, rivaling even that of beef, and are a good source of healthy fats, including polyunsaturated and monounsaturated oils. As a symbol of sustenance, culture, and the landscape, the piñon nut remains an enduring icon of the Southwest, connecting the region’s history, people, and environment in a way that continues to be appreciated today.

The tradition of the piñon harvest of Northern New Mexico is an important one that goes back generations in Hispanic, Puebloans and the Navajo cultures. Hand picking piñon is a memorable family activity, heading out into the forest where you might not normally go. A good harvest may happen once every 5 years, or less often with drought and other factors, so this year’s bounty is a cause for celebration! It is mana from heaven.

Picking piñon is a tradition unique to this place, to the people of New Mexico across cultures. Childhood memories of soaking them in salt water, roasting and shelling are part of life here. Imagine a time in history when there were no power bars, no snack food options and the long cold winter is almost upon you, and the deep dark piñon forests shed a basket full of neatly packaged tasty bits of energy. Piñon nuts are a gift from nature, a bounty whose roots go deep.

Preserving the traditions of Northern New Mexico is a mission for Chimayo Trading, and sharing this year’s especially generous harvest of piñon is part of that tradition. Experience a taste from the mountain forests that connects you with the history of human occupation and survival. Come in for a sample of piñon before the first snow… We are offering unroasted, unsalted piñon for $30 lb plus shipping.

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