“What is the best pecan you have?” We hear this question daily at Bass Pecan Company’s retail store. The answer… “It depends.” The best pecan for you depends on how you plan to crack and shell the pecan, as well as how you plan to use it. Most people find it surprising that the taste of pecans varies widely by variety.
There are over 1,000 named varieties of pecans today. At our orchard, we grow about 15 of the most popular newer varieties, including many low-input varieties. During the fall, our crop’s best varieties will be sold to our customers online at www.basspecan.com or in our retail store located at our farm in Mississippi. Even within a particular variety, you can have slight variations of taste due to the weather and the terroir (the taste effects of the location where it is grown). Not only can you taste the difference in a pecan grown in certain areas of the U.S., you can also taste the variation sunlight and rain play on a particular year’s crop. Your favorite tasting pecan may not be my favorite tasting pecan. (By the way, my top 3 for each year will vary based on the pecan crop’s weather conditions.)
Are you planning to shell your pecans by hand? If so, I would recommend Forkert, Gift Pack or Syrup Mill for your eating pleasure. You believe the largest pecan is the best pecan? Then I would suggest Jackson, Cherryle, Excel or Ellis to eat. You want a richer flavored pecan? This is typically due to a very high oil content – Elliott, Lipan or a seedling (native) pecan may be best for you.
Are you cooking and plan to chop your pecans? Then go ahead and purchase our Pecan Pieces where we have already handled the laborious step of chopping just for you. You say you don’t want to crack and shell your own pecans, but you want them freshly cracked? Try one of our Almost Shelled varieties where we crack, shell and blow, removing approximately 90% of the shell and trash. You perform the final step in inspecting the pecans for packing material and shell. Finally, you want the best bang for the buck? At our farm, it is typically Creek or Lakota.
Ask anyone in our store, what is the best pecan? You will get as many answers as the number of varieties harvested and sold that day. It may take you years of purchasing pecans from us to find just the perfect one for you. In the end, I believe that you can’t go wrong with any of them!
FAQs
You want a richer flavored pecan? This is typically due to a very high oil content – Elliott, Lipan or a seedling (native) pecan may be best for you.
Where are the best pecans from? ›
Some pecans are of more quality than some others, and consuming the ones with high quality gives you a chance to enjoy the many benefits. Generally, in terms of pecan production in America, Georgia, New Mexico and Texas are the highest producing states.
What are the three types of pecans? ›
Pecan varieties are generally classified according to their origin—Southeast, West, or Northern U.S. Cultivars grown in Oklahoma originated from all three areas. Many of the southeastern varieties grown in Oklahoma originated as discoveries of seedling trees in Mississippi.
Are Georgia pecans better? ›
Georgia's pecans are highly desirable due to their size, meatiness and flavor. Delicious right out of the shell, Georgia pecans can be smoked, toasted or roasted, but more and more companies are thinking beyond pecans as nibbles.
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 pecans? ›
You can find some trees that mature the male flowers first followed by the maturing female flower, with this sequence being a Type I or protandrous flowering. While another tree matures the female flower first followed by the male flowers maturing, which is known as a Type II or protogynous flowering.
Are there different grades of pecans? ›
There are four grades of shelled pecans and their order of precedence is Fancy, Choice, Standard and Amber.
What is the most common pecan? ›
As the U.S. Southeast's most widely planted variety, Stuart is one of the most common types of pecans. Though not quite as large as Desirables, ripe Stuart pecans still reach a good size. The Stuart pecan is known for its crunchy texture and sweet, nutty flavor.
Which pecans are the sweetest? ›
While thin or "paper-shelled" pecans are easy enough to crack with your bare hand, hard-shelled varieties like the Stuart can have a "discernibly sweeter taste," according to Nuts.com.
Do all pecans taste the same? ›
The cultivars exhibited significant differences from one another for 8 attributes: pecan ID, nutty-buttery, caramelized, acrid, woody, oily, astringent, and bitter.
What state is famous for pecans? ›
Georgia is the largest pecan producing state. Among fifteen pecan producing state, Georgia accounts for one-third of pecan harvest in the US which is nearly 88 million pounds of pecan. There are over six thousand pecan trees in all of the pecan orchards and farms in Georgia.
Why Are Pecans Expensive? Pecans are grown in many countries, but like a warmer climate with just the right number of chill hours each winter. Pecan trees take 10 years to really mature and produce a real crop. They require a good deal of water, sun, and chill hours.
What is the pecan capital of the world? ›
San Saba Texas | Welcome to the Pecan Capital of the World.
Why do some pecans taste so bad? ›
For the freshest and most flavorful pecans, choose whole ones in the shell. When choosing whole unshelled pecans, look for nuts that are heavy for their size and don't rattle when shaken. There shouldn't be any cracks or holes in the shells. Shelled pecans absorb odors and turn rancid quickly.
What type is desirable pecan? ›
'Desirable' is supposedly one of the first pecan cultivars developed from a controlled cross. The cross was made in the early 1900's by Carl F. Forkert from Ocean Springs, Jackson County, Miss. The parentage is unknown but may be 'Success' x 'Jewett'.
