Pecans – A Real Southern Georgia Treat

When most people think of southwest Georgia, they think of Jimmy Carter and peanut farming. What many don’t realize is that peanuts are not nuts; they are legumes, like peas. However, one of the many agricultural crops of our area is a true nut, the pecan.

I have to stop for a moment to ask you, how do you pronounce the word “pecan”? Do you say “puh-KAHN” or “PEE-can” or “PEE-kahn”? There is actually some interesting history behind the pronunciation of the word.

The Native Americans called these nuts pakani, with the emphasis on the second syllable which leads you closer to the “puh-KAHN” pronunciation which is listed first in the dictionary as the preferred pronunciation.

However, in the English language, the word “can” does not rhyme with the word “gone”, thus the argument for the “PEE-can” pronunciation.

It really doesn’t matter how you say it. If you enjoy these delicious nuts, our favorite place to buy all kinds of pecan treats is Ellis Bros Pecans in nearby Vienna, just off of I-75, exit 109.

All the pecans are from the family owned pecan orchard dating back to 1944 They currently grow over 2,500 acres of pecans with twenty different varieties and have approximately 54 acres of peach trees consisting of twenty-five different varieties, one of the other major crops of this area of Georgia.

When you enter the store, there are pecans as far as the eye can see. You quickly notice the vast variety of raw pecans. I didn’t know how many different types of pecans there were until we visited Ellis Bros pecans. Our personal favorite is the “Desirable” variety.

There are so many different varieties of sweet and savory coated pecans to discover. Who knew that Key Lime flavor coated pecans would be a delicious surprise? However, we do have a couple of favorites in the coated varieties. The praline coated pecans are amazing.

But, for me, the chocolate ones will always be at the top of my list. They have all different varieties in white, milk and dark chocolate including a sugar free selection. My absolute favorite, if I have to choose just one, is the Dark Chocolate Amaretto Pecans. These are incredible.

Besides pecans, they also sell all kinds of other goodies including other nuts, peanut butter, marinades, jams and preserves, many made right on premise. During peach season, you can purchase delicious freshly picked peaches.

So, if you are travelling to or from Americus on I-75, and you are looking for some local treats, check out our friends at Ellis Bros Pecans. Your taste buds will thank you. They are open every day of the year, including holidays, from 8am – 8pm. We plan to go back very soon because I’m out of my Dark Chocolate Amaretto Pecans!

Thanks for visiting. Hope to see you soon.
Love,
Susan