Pine Nuts
Dual Purpose Nuts
The heavy smell of pine tar permeates everything as a bucket is passed around, small nuts filling it to the brim. Each person grabs a handful, tossing them in their mouths or into their pockets before continuing with their day. Outsiders would turn their noses up at such a stench, a smell that is more reminiscent of construction work instead of daily snacking, but the hardy folk of the Cradle of Clay rarely care what others think. Their livelihood and even snacks are out of necessity, less for proper settings and certain sensibilities.
With a bit of water added, the same nuts that were roasted and snacked on moments ago could be worked into a paste, one that is a temporary adhesive, but strong enough to withstand the weather. All sorts of items will be stuck to buildings, corals, and even to the livestock if necessary with the tar created from these small nuts as it can be easily removed by a substance created for them by the Dwarves.
Pine nuts are a versatile material that many ignored until the Clay Giants stumbled upon their existence. These small nuts do not even grow in the Cradle of Clay, but the wind often rolls them down from the peaks covered by the Timbers of the Furnace to the foothills that mark the beginning of the Cradle. A quick roast turns the nuts into a handy snack, easily carried from place to place while never going bad. Grinding with a pestle and adding water after roasting guarantees a useful glue that is carried by most.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Pine nuts are small brown nuts that are grown on Deeproot Pines found in the Timbers of the Furnace. Throughout the year, these nuts fall from the trees and are often caught by the wind where they are moved and help repopulate the forest. If gathered and roasted, these nuts give off the heavy smell of pine tar, one often associated with construction due to pine tar's uses for building throughout the world.
History & Usage
Everyday use
Most commonly, pine nuts are gathered and roasted to be eaten as a simple snack. Most people do not enjoy the somewhat smokey taste of the pine nuts, but these are a staple snack for the Clay Giants as they are easily carried in empty pockets or bags when they are working in the fields or traveling with the herds. The nuts can also be turned into an adhesive that is rubbery and tacky in nature and is easily dissolved with a special solution created by the Dwarves.
Cultural Significance and Usage
While seemingly a simple snack, pine nuts have a very interesting history and significance to the Clay Giants. Early on in their exploration and settlement of the Cradle of Clay, the Clay Giants found a hollow in the foothills near the Great Furnaces where thousands of pine nuts were gathered by the wind. Knowing that these were nuts, the travelers tasted them, noting the somewhat bitter and smokey taste. Some were taken back to their camp, roasted over the fire, and then shared with the group. The discovery of the pine nut is considered one of the Clay Giants' earliest discoveries in the Cradle of Clay.
Distribution
Trade & Market
There is no market for pine nuts as a snack, but as an adhesive, the market is fairly large. While not produced by the Clay Giants, the adhesive is often created and bottled by Dwarves living on the edges of the Great Furnaces and then sold with the removal solution their Scholars have created. The Clay Giants often help in the gathering of the raw nuts and have a trade agreement in place with the Dwarves for the removal solution.
Storage
Once roasted, the whole nuts can be easily stored in a cool dry place in sealed barrels. With this storage method, the nuts can remain good for years, ready to be eaten as a snack or turned into adhesive. Once turned into adhesive, the glue is often stored in small metal tins that can be easily carried. The glue has no expiration date as currently found.
Pine Nuts
A tasty snack often eaten by the Clay Giants, Pine Nuts have a secondary usage that may be surprising. If processed correctly, these smoky, strong-smelling nuts can be used as a simple adhesive that is removable under the right conditions.
Type
Organic
Rarity
Common
Odor
Strong pine tar
Taste
Smoky when roasted
Related Locations
Related Species
Entry for Worldbuilding Summer Camp 2025
Answering: "A resource with an alternative or secret application"
In response to the prompt Write about a delicious nut in your world. Does it have other special properties?
I love the idea that it can be used as both a snack and a glue. :D
Explore Etrea | Summer Camp 2025