The pecan nut comes from the pecan tree and is native to Mexico and the southcentral and southeastern regions of the United States. Pecan is from an Algonquian word meaning a nut requiring a stone to crack. A pecan, like the fruit of all other members of the hickory genus, is not truly a nut, but is technically a drupe, a fruit with a single stone or pit, surrounded by a husk. Pecan nuts are edible, with a rich, buttery flavour. They can be eaten fresh or used in cooking, particularly in sweet desserts.
