Hickory is also highly prized for wood-burning stoves and chimineas owing to its high energy content, and the aromatic smoke produced by burning the wood is used extensively in cooking and curing meats. A bark extract from the shagbark hickory tree is used in an edible syrup similar to maple syrup, giving a slightly bitter, smokey taste. Some of the nuts from hickory trees can be eaten as snacks and are often found in desserts. Pecan nuts are very popular and especially beneficial for human health, notably in lowering cholesterol levels.