Pili Nut

The pili, Canarium ovatum, is a tropical evergreen tree native to the Philippines, in the genus Canarium within the family Burseraceae, growing to about 20 meters and commercially cultivated there for its edible nuts, especially in the Bicol region where cultivation and trade are centered. The tree produces drupes containing edible kernels; raw kernels taste like roasted pumpkin seed, while roasted kernels take on qualities similar to pine nuts. In the Philippines the nuts are used in traditional candies and brittle, and they are increasingly sold commercially in markets such as the United States. The pili and its fruit are sometimes grouped under the broader term Java almond, which lumps together several Canarium species across maritime Southeast Asia, though pili specifically refers to Canarium ovatum.