Additional Information

These unique heirloom ground nuts (ancient peanuts) are cultivated in communities of the Achuar Indians. They are indigenous to the Amazon basin in Southeast Ecuador who speak from the Jivaroan Language Family. The Achuar language is similar to that of the Shuar who border the Achuar to the north and west. The Shuar live closer to colonized areas and more in the upper Amazon, while the Achuar live more remotely in the lower Amazon. As a result of this demography, the Achuar have been less affected by outside influences and have experienced less cultural changes, retaining more of what we might consider a "traditional" lifestyle.

These ancient, heirloom nuts are planted by hand, deep in the Amazon Jungle. They are hand harvested. Then these nuts are carried along trails by foot to a city where they can be shipped or flown. The Achuar's territory contains no roads. The only way to bring these peanuts out of the Amazon basin is via foot or by small airplane. The cultivation and selling of these wild jungle peanuts and other organic certified products represents the Achuar Indian's only income.

Wild Jungle Peanuts contain 26% protein, higher than any other nut. Over 40% of the oils contained in this ancient peanut are oleic acid (the main fatty acid in olive oil). These ancient peanuts also contain 13% of the DV for Calcium and 21% of the DV for Iron.

Aflatoxins are toxic substances made by molds. Unfortunately, aflatoxins on American peanuts are a problem. However, because these ancient nuts are a wild, heirloom nut, planted far away from civilization, they are essentially aflatoxin-free. Laboratory testing of these wild jungle peanuts has shown both the B1 and total level of aflatoxins to be less than 0.2 parts per billion. These unique, delicious aflatoxin-free nuts have a two year shelf-life from date of harvest.