ALL ABOUT PEANUTS

Peanuts are certainly America's most popular nut and nut butter source. But peanuts are not actually a nut at all - they're a legume! They are part of the Leguminosae or Fabaceae family, along with soy, green beans, and lentils. Peanuts begin life as an above-ground flower, that after blooming starts to bend toward the ground. The flower eventually burrows underground and matures into the peanut we know. The veined brown peanut shell or pod contains two or three seeds - and that's what we eat as peanuts!

Peanut Popularity

P.T. Barnum and his traveling circus are credited with boosting the popularity of peanuts - he traveled around the country selling "hot roasted peanuts!" at his shows.

Peanuts originated in South America, most likely in Peru or Brazil. As early as 1500 BC, peanuts were a revered foodstuff in South American cultures - archaeologists have found peanut-decorated pottery and peanut offerings in the tombs of mummies. Spanish and Portuguese explorers brought the plant to Africa, where they flourished. The plant was brought to North America in the 1700s during the slave trade. Initially peanuts were grown mainly for livestock feed and used as oil and food only by the poor. In the 19th century, George Washington Carver (1864-1943) encouraged the planting of peanuts in the American South after a devastating cotton crop loss from boll weevil infestations. He also invented over 300 uses for the peanut, from food to industrial applications. Today, most peanuts are grown in India, China, and the United States.

Peanuts have a high protein and monounsaturated fat content - the good fat! They are also high in Vitamins E and B, as well as copper and manganese. Peanuts also provide resveratrol - an antioxidant also found in red wine and touted for its cardiovascular health benefits. Learn more about nutrients here.

Peanuts can be bought either shelled or unshelled. It is recommended that both be refrigerated for longer shelf life.

Making your own peanut butter is an extra special treat - check out our DIY Nut Butter Guide to learn how.
SUGGESTED FLAVOR PAIRINGS - chocolate, dehydrated banana, jelly

THE BEST PEANUT BUTTERS

Santa Cruz Organic Creamy Dark Roasted Peanut Butter

This is definitely one of my favorite peanut butters of all time! The dark roasted flavor really stands out. A bit drying to the tongue but not unpleasantly so. A very pure peanut butter taste, hardly any sweetness (it’s sugar-free!). Despite it being creamy, there's still a bit of texture. An absolutely fantastic choice for all your classic peanut butter uses – sandwiches, apple slices, straight off your custom spoon, etc.
[Non-GMO, Organic, Vegan, Roasted]

Available online and at most major grocers.

YumButter Organic Creamy Peanut Butter

This is a very sweet child-like/nostalgic nut butter. It is exactly the peanut butter taste of my childhood, but elevated. It smells a little toasty with a smooth, not sticky and not too oily texture. It's a gentle heart-opening sweetness - I fell in love with this peanut butter. :)
[Organic, Non-GMO]

Available online and at some major grocers.

Maranatha Organic Creamy Peanut Butter

First off - this is very sweet! But sort of amazingly so. I think it'd be too sweet to eat on fruit!! And so it would not be my everyday go-to, but it takes like a pretty indulgent treat for simple peanut butter. It's super silky and smooth and a good consistency right in the middle of runny and thick. There's a sort of maple honey note to it. Definitely a good one to take as a reward at the end of a hike or something similar! Overall, it's one of my very faves. And probably really good for baking.
[Non-GMO, Organic, Dry Roasted]

Available at most major grocers.

THE BEST FLAVORED PEANUT BUTTERS

Justin's Honey Peanut Butter Spread

The honey here is strong! It's very floral, I can hear the hives buzzing. It's smooth with just a hint of sugar crystal grit and not nearly as tacky as straight peanut butter. Pleasantly sweet – not overpoweringly so. I would choose this over plain Justin’s PB any day. Skip adding honey to your toast and go straight for this PB jar. It's really well-balanced sweet to salt to fat ratio. I love it!
[Non-GMO, Organic, Dry Roasted]

Available online and at most major grocers.

RX Nut Butter Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter

That pumpkin spice is strong! I barely recognize the peanuts. It's quite drying - I would appreciate a speck more oil. But very warming, autumnal & home-y. Can't wait to have it again next season!

Available seasonally online or at most major grocers.

RX Nut Butter Honey Cinnamon Peanut Butter

Wow, both the honey & cinnamon flavors are strong! I wouldn't know whether it was peanut or almond butter with how strong the other flavors are. A slightly grainy texture - perhaps they use date sugar rather than whole dates? It's quite sweet and tastes like a really special and a very nostalgic slice of morning toast. Yum.
[Keto]

Available online and at most major grocers.