India is one of the largest producer of peanuts in the world. Indian peanuts are available in different varieties: Bolds or Runners, Javas or Spanish and Red Natals; and have a rich nutty flavour, sweet taste, crunchy texture and a relatively longer shelf life.
Peanuts in India are available throughout the year due to a two-crop cycle harvested in March and October. On an average, India produces 7- 8 million tonnes of peanuts (unshelled) every year. In fact, considering the current export figures, India has a much larger potential to supply high quality groundnuts to the international buyer.
The awareness and concern for quality amongst the Indian peanut shellers and processors are growing steadily. Multiple sorting and grading are fast becoming a norm. Indian shippers have the capability to prepare and supply edible peanuts conforming to highest standards.
Peanut in Shell
The Peanut consists of an external hull (or shell) (21-29%) surrounding the nut (79-71%). Peanut hulls, not to be confounded with peanut skins (which are the thin paper-like seed coats enclosing the kernel), are a by-product of peanut processing. The shelling of peanuts is often the second operation (after cleaning) of peanut processing, as both the production of peanut oil and the production of peanut snacks, peanut butter and other peanut-based foods require kernels without hulls (except the production of in-shell peanuts). Peanut hulls usually consist of fragmented hulls with variable amounts of whole or broken kernels.
| Varity | Grade |
|---|---|
| Groundnuts In-Shell | 20/24, 24/28 |
Groundnut in Shell
Varieties of Peanuts
The 2 major varieties of Peanuts produced in India are Bold (runners) and Java (Spanish). The Bold variety peanuts have typically reddish brown skin with oblong shape, while Java variety have pink skin with spherical in shape.
Bold peanuts are the major oilseed of India. It accounts for around 25% of the total oilseed production of the country. Annual production of India Peanuts and Indian Peanuts oil are around 5-8mln and 1.5mln tons respectively.
| Varity | Grade |
|---|---|
| Bold Kernel | 35/40, 38/42, 40/45, 45/50, 45/55, 60/70, 70/80 |
| Java Kernel | 40/50, 45/55, 60/70, 70/80, 80/90, 100/120 |
| Red Skin Java Kernel | 70/80, 80/90 |
Bold
Java
Red Skin Java
Blanched Peanuts
Many nuts like almonds, peanuts or hazelnuts are grown in a shell. When the shell is removed there is still a skin on the outside of the nutmeat. Blanching is a process that removes the skin from the nut meat.
So how do you blanch a nut? The process itself is done by putting the nuts in very hot water for about a minute (blanching) then cooling them rapidly and rubbing off the skin.
Well, neither… it just depend what you plan on doing, cooking or snacking on the nuts. Blanched nuts are used mostly for cooking and baking. If the nut is unblanched and the skin is still on, the skin will separate during cooking. Leaving your baked goodie, a husky mess.
But, for snacking nothing beats an unblanched nut. The husk adds just a touch of flavor, and is packed full of nutrients.
| Varity | Grade |
|---|---|
| Whole Blanched Peanuts | 38/42, 40/50, 50/60, etc |
| Split Blanched Peanuts | 40/50, 50/60, 60/70, etc. |
Whole Blanched
Split Blanched
Common Packing For Container Shipment
| Items | Packing | Quantity in Container |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut Kernels | 25Kgs / 50Kgs In Jute / PP Bag | 17MTs to 19MTs per 20’FCL based on the Size of Kernels |
| Peanut In Shell | 30Kgs in PP Bag | 15MTs per 40’FCL |
| Blanched Peanut kernels | 12.5KgsX2 per Cartons 25Kgs per PP Bag |
16MTs per 20’FCL 18MTs per 20’FCL |
Origin of Peanuts with production
China (37.58%)India (15.03%)Nigeria (7.7%)United States (5.46%)Sudan (4.10%)
Benefits of Peanut Consumption
Peanuts are rich in nutrients,providing over 30 essential nutrients & phytonutrients. Peanuts are a good source of niacin, folate, fiber,magnesium,Vitamin E, Manganese & phosphorous. They also are naturally free of trans-fats and sodium and contain about 25% protein.
Peanuts are processed in various forms as Peanut butter/Flavoured peanuts/Coated peanuts/ Peanut bars/Chocolate spreads, nut biscuits, crushed nuts used on cakes, buns, icecream and desserts.
Innovation on use of peanuts in processed foods continues due to its excellent nutritional values.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 100gm
- Amounts per servings
-
Calories 567Calories from Fat 415
- % Daily Values*
-
Total Fat 45g75%
-
Saturated fat 7g35%
-
Polyunsaturated fat 16g
-
Monounsaturated fat 24g
-
Cholesterol 0mg0%
-
Sodium 18mg0%
-
Potassium 705mg20%
-
Total Carbohydrate 16g5%
-
Dietary fiber 9g36%
-
Sugar 4g
-
Protein 26g52%
-
Vitamin A0%Vitamin C0%
-
Calcium9%Iron25%
-
Vitamin D0%Vitamin B615%
-
Vitamin B120%Magnesium42%
- *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 Calorie diet.
Facts on Peanut Nuts
The peanut, also known as the groundnut and the goober and taxonomically classified as Arachis hypogaea, is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics, being important to both small and large commercial producers. It is classified as both a grain legume and, because of its high oil content, an oil crop. World annual production of shelled peanuts was 42 million tonnes in 2014. Atypically among crop plants, peanut pods develop underground rather than aboveground. It is this characteristic that the botanist Linnaeus used to assign the specific name hypogaea, which means “under the earth.”
As a legume, the peanut belongs to the botanical family Fabaceae; this is also known as Leguminosae, and commonly known as the bean, or pea, family. Like most other legumes, peanuts harbor symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules. This capacity to fix nitrogen means peanuts require less nitrogen-containing fertilizer and improve soil fertility, making them valuable in crop rotations.
Peanuts are similar in taste and nutritional profile to tree nuts such as walnuts and almonds, and are often served in similar ways in Western cuisines. The botanical definition of a “nut” is a fruit whose ovary wall becomes very hard at maturity. Using this criterion, the peanut is not a true nut, but rather a legume. However, for culinary purposes and in common English language usage, peanuts are usually referred to as nuts.
