Do you like peanuts? I do, and I even ate butter produced from peanut today. The taste is something to enjoy. Peanuts, also known as groundnuts, are enjoyed worldwide.
In the United States alone, more than a billion kilograms of peanuts are harvested annually. This is equal to almost 10 percent of the world total. Peanut is majorly produced in Argentina, Brazil, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa. But, what really is special about this seed? However, before we discuss that, let us learn more about this amazing seed.
What exactly are Peanuts? Do not confuse it with nuts. They are not, but are really the seeds of the peanut plant. When the plant start to grow, it puts forth yellow flowers that pollinate themselves.
Peanuts thrive better in warm, sunny climes with moderate rainfall. The time from planting to harvesting may vary from 120 to 160 days, depending on the variety of peanut and the weather conditions. To harvest peanuts, growers must dig up the plants, vine and all, turn them upside down, and allow them to dry so that they can be stored without spoiling.
The food value of peanuts is impressive. However, peanuts are underrated by many people. They are high in fiber, and they contain 13 vitamins and 26 minerals, many of which are lacking in modern diets. But beware! Peanuts have more fat than heavy cream and more food energy than sugar.
Peanuts feature in a wide array of national cuisines. And their unique taste is hard to miss. For sure, you will love the flavor of the peanut which is so rich and unmistakable that any dish flavored with ground peanuts will have a similar flavor.
Peanuts are also a favorite snack item. In some countries like India, peanuts are mixed with other dried legumes and sold as a street snack. Interestingly, peanut butter, a sandwich spread, was reportedly invented by a physician in St. Louis [U.S.A.] about 1890 as a health food for old people.
Peanuts are an important source of cooking oil as well. Peanut oil can be used for cooking at very high temperatures, and it does not pick up the flavor of the items being cooked.
Although peanuts can be stored for long periods without refrigeration, caution, however, is in order. Peanuts that have become moldy contain aflatoxin, a potent cancer-causing agent. Besides, many people are allergic to peanuts. The allergic reaction to peanuts can produce symptoms ranging from runny noses and rashes to life-threatening anaphylactic shock. If you are allergic to peanuts, you may want to avoid eating it.
Whether you love peanut or not, this consideration of its benefits can cause you to have a greater appreciation for this humble yet widely popular seed.