Being an endemic species to the Mediterranean Basin; stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) obtains an extreme economical relevance in Spain; Portugal; Italy; Tunisia and Turkey; where pine nuts are traditionally marketed and consumed. Based on the analysis of 27 different Portuguese populations; pine nuts were characterized by high contents of fat (47.7 g per 100 g dry matter DM); protein (33.9 g per 100 g DM) and phosphorus (1130 mg per 100 g DM) and low contents of moisture (5.9 g per 100 g DM) and starch (3.5 g per 100 g DM). They were also found to be a good source of zinc; iron and manganese. A comparative analysis with P. koraiensis nuts showed the latter to have lower protein (14.1 g per 100 g DM) vitamin and mineral contents; and higher fat (68.1 g per 100 g DM) and pinolenic acid contents (14.5 per cent vs 0.3 per cent w-w TFA). Protein and pinolenic acid contents could be considered as good parameters to distinguish the edible kernels of these two species.
