The Pili tree (Canarium ovatum) is a tropical evergreen that grows to an average of 66-ft high and lives for up to 100 years. Native to the Bicol region of The Philippines, the trees grow in nutrient-rich volcanic soil in the rainforest. Pili nuts are an important agricultural commodity in the Philippines, representing a higher percentage of the total value of commercial crops than Coconut, Sugarcane, Rubber, or Mango. The nuts are harvested by hand and by shaking the trees with a bamboo tool called a tukdol. The trees involved in the harvest are a mix of nuts from wild trees, collected by individuals and a growing number of commercial farms. The long and slender kernels themselves have a unique savory flavor but the texture can be compared to a macadamia nut or a Brazil nut.
