What is peanut?

What Does peanut Mean

Maní is a word of Taino origin, an Arawak language spoken by aborigines who were settled in the Caribbean area when Europeans arrived on the American continent. Also known as peanut or groundnut , the peanut is a plant appreciated above all for its edible seeds .

Scientific name Arachis hypogaea , this plant species has a creeping stem, yellowish flowers and lobed leaves. It is an annual herb that is sown in late spring.
Peanuts are a very popular snack or appetizer.
A valued food
The peanut fruit , arranged in pods, has a shell with a thickness of between 0.5 and 1 millimeter. Although it is often thought of as a dried fruit , it is actually a legume .

Inside it can contain two, three or four seeds with a high oil content. These seeds are eaten fried or roasted, either with or without the shell.
In many countries, roasted or fried peanuts are eaten as an aperitif or snack . It is also frequently prepared as caramelised , covered in syrup . Also with peanuts, pralines , nougat and various sweets and sweets are made .
Although there are people who may suffer allergies to some of the components, peanuts have high amounts of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, which helps improve heart health, reduces bad cholesterol and contributes to the regulation of pressure arterial .
Peanut butter bread.
Oil and peanut butter
The peanut oil obtained from the pressing or baking of plant seeds. It is used in wok recipes, to season salads or to fry.
Gastronomy is not the only destination for peanut oil. This product is also used as a fuel in diesel engines and to make soap .

The butter or peanut butter , on the other hand, is a paste that in addition to the roasted and ground peanuts, usually includes different flavors. Many times it is mixed with vanilla or chocolate, for example.
Use of the shell
Although the peanut shell is generally discarded, it is important to mention that it is possible to reuse it in different ways. One of its uses is in livestock , where it is mixed with the food that is supplied to the animals.
A boiler , meanwhile, can be fed with peanut shells as fuel . The peanut shell is even used for the manufacture of chipboards , combining it with wood.
Peanut pests
The peanut crops can suffer the actions of various pests . The larvae of certain beetles (known as blind chickens), the spider mite and different types of worms affect the plant.
Peanuts can also get an infection from fungi such as Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus . These organisms are in a position to cause contamination of peanut seeds with aflatoxins, which are highly toxic mycotoxins. Exposure to a high level of aflatoxin can cause severe liver damage, from cirrhosis to cancer .
The care of the crops, therefore, is essential for the subsistence of peanuts and to enable their commercial exploitation. There are multiple alternatives to prevent and combat the aforementioned pests.