Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter is made from ground and processed peanuts, it can be made at home using dry roasted peanuts in a food processor, honey and salt can also be added to enhance the flavour of the peanut butter. Once the ingredients are in the processor all that needs to be done is to let the peanuts turn to a more liquid form.

Peanut Plant

Peanuts are part of the legume family similar to beans and peas. Though many people consider the peanut to be a true nut it is actually a seed pod. The peanut is native to South America.

Peanuts grow on the stalks of yellow petaled flowers, after pollination the flowers fade. After the flowers fade the stalks at the base elongate and turn downward burying the peanut into the ground when the seed is mature the inner lining of the pod changes from white to a reddish-brown, the plant is then harvested.

Peanuts were taken from South America and spread across the globe, India, China, and the U.S. are now the biggest peanut producers in the world.

Allergies

Nut allergies are fairly common and peanuts are often banned in public places like schools to ensure that those with severe allergic reactions are not at risk. Packaging of foods also often contains whether foods were produced in factories with nuts.

Significance

Peanuts became increasingly popular during the American civil war as food shortages in the South became increasingly prevalent. Peanuts were also a good food source for the invading Union armies who raided plantations in the countryside. Peanuts in the 19th century also became increasingly popular in China because of American missionaries and are now featured in several Chinese dishes. Peanut oil is also one of the most prevalent sources of food-based oils and is one of the most important sources of protein in vegetable-based diets.

Peanut, New World Encyclopedia; https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Peanut (accessed 12. 04. 2020). Mansfeld’s World Database of Agriculture and Horticultural Crops; http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/apex/f?p=185:46:33533131957193::NO::module,mf_use,source,taxid,akzname:mf,,volksnam,29861,Arachishypogaea (accessed 12. 04. 2020). 5 Minute Homemade Peanut Butter; https://pinchofyum.com/5-minute-homemade-peanut-butter (accessed 12. 04. 2020).