Pistachios come from the region known as Asia Minor and Central Asia, which today includes countries such as Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Palestine, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, and parts of Afghanistan and the Caucasus. The pistachio tree, scientifically known as Pistacia vera, has been cultivated for thousands of years in these areas due to its adaptation to arid climates and rocky terrain. Archaeological evidence shows pistachios were consumed as early as 6750 BCE in Central Asia. Historically, pistachios were considered a royal delicacy in ancient times, highly prized in cultures such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. The Romans introduced pistachios from Asia Minor to Europe around the first century AD, and the Arabs later spread their cultivation further, including to places like Sicily. Today, major pistachio producers include Iran, Turkey, and the United States (especially California), with cultivation also present in countries like China, Greece, Italy, Syria, and Afghanistan. In summary, pistachios originate from the Middle East and Central Asia and have spread globally due to their valued taste and nutritional properties over millennia.