Walnuts have been a beloved snack for thousands of years. In ancient Rome, people called them by their Latin name, Juglansregia, which means “Jupiter’s royal acorn.” Walnuts originated in Persia and spread through Asia and Europe. Spanish missionaries brought them to California in the 1700s. Today, most of the walnuts in the U.S. are grown in California, but some are grown in the Midwest as well. English walnuts, also known as Persian walnuts, are members of the Juglandaceae family, with pecans and hickory as close relatives. They grow in a tan shell about the size of a golf ball with a seam around the center. Split the shell at the seam, and inside you’ll find the bumpy, golden brown nut. Walnut skin sometimes has a slightly bitter flavor, but the nut itself is mild, earthy, and a little tangy.