Aloha! Or maybe not ... these nuts, seemingly as Hawaiian as luaus and leis, actually hail from Australia, where aborigines used them to supplement their diet. The seeds were planted in Hawaii in the late 1800s, and the trees flourished—hence their frequent appearance in tourist shops. Delicious added to cookies and confections, macadamias also impart a rich, buttery flavor to fish, pork chops, and even chicken.

And although these nuts certainly bring the tropics to your taste buds, they're also great for your skin. We use macadamia oil for its excellent conditioning benefits and non-greasy after-feel. Our oil, produced from a variety (Macadamia ternifolia) different from the edible nut, is prized for its penetrating benefits and its ability to leave skin feeling velvety-soft.