Legume
Arachis hypogaea
S tier
Arachis hypogaea is the cultivated peanut (groundnut), a South American legume that fruits underground and eats like a nut—earthy, sweet, and rich when roasted. Market types split into Virginia, Runner, Spanish, and Valencia classes by pod and seed traits. Allergy labelling is non-negotiable in food service. Butter, oil, flour, sauces, and boiled green peanuts span global uses. West African stews and Southeast Asian satays treat peanut as foundational fat and flavour. Store cool and dry against mould and rancidity.
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Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Peanuts were domesticated in South America and spread through Andean and Amazonian foodways.
Columbian exchange carried peanuts to Africa, Asia, and later the American South.
Industrial peanut butter and oil production transformed peanuts into mass-market staples.
Global snack, confectionery, and sauce industries made A. hypogaea a major food legume.