UK - Raw Nuts

[miles]

How can I get truly raw nuts in the UK?

Are almonds the most raw of the shelled nuts?

[TylerDurden]

Buy only nuts still in their shells. That is likely safe.

[Michael]

Tyler's correct miles.  Buying unshelled nuts is the only guarantee.

I will kindly supply you with my own 'secret' local supplier who I used to buy from regularly (I don't personally eat nuts anymore).  I believe it's now possible to shop via their website.  The most exciting thing is - their nuts are affordable and they have huge supplies!  They're a parrot specialist in Norfolk but, after lengthy discussions with the owner, I discovered that the nuts sold as 'parrot food' are, in fact, graded fit for human consumption.  Owners spend thousands on their exotic parrots and only want the best food for them.  The nuts, actually, are no different to the tiny bags one pays a small fortune for in the health shops!!  In fact, they're better because they're unshelled and not rancid like most you'd buy in the stores.  Shhhh, don't tell anyone!!    They're not organic but, to be honest, I don't think this is an issue with unshelled nuts.  They sell in bags as large as 25kg if I recall correctly and do some wonderful unusual and difficult to obtain nuts as well as the usual offerings.

You can find their website here: http://www.junglegold.com/

I hope that's helpful! 

The only pain is, of course, one has to shell them all!  It makes sense to buy a decent nutcracker for the job.  I imported one called 'The Rocket' from the US which did a fine job and which I'd recommend.  I used to shell, soak and dehydrate in bulk which makes much more sense if one is consuming any reasonable quantity.

[miles]

Why do you need to soak and dehydrate them?

By the way Tyler I was reading some site and it said that even the shell-on nuts are heated, but I didn't look in much detail and I'm off to sleep now. G'night.

[raw]

after you soak them, they become softer and also they change themselves chemically inside to make sprouts.

in US, even with the shell, they are not raw. so have your own nuts tree is the most reliable source to eat real raw nuts.

[TylerDurden]

Why do you need to soak and dehydrate them?

By the way Tyler I was reading some site and it said that even the shell-on nuts are heated, but I didn't look in much detail and I'm off to sleep now. G'night.

I think it is more of a problem in the US, but yes some shelled nuts might be heated. Not all or most, though.

[Brother]

I think it is more of a problem in the US, but yes some shelled nuts might be heated. Not all or most, though.

I am under the impression that here, all nuts are pasteurized. But I dont know how to find out for sure.

[Michael]

Why do you need to soak and dehydrate them?

I'm surprised that you're not aware of this miles.  As raw said, it prepares them for germination into sprouts.  More importantly this removes the enzyme inhibitors (which are present in all nuts and seeds) which cause great stress on the digestive system as well as reducing other anti-nutrients.  The enzyme inhibitors are nature's way of retaining the powerhouse of nutrition until the environment is right for germination (dark, moist etc).  Squirrels bury their nuts for this reason.  The one's they forget to dig up germinate into new trees and nature's wonderful circle of life continues.

Once soaked and the inhibitors removed, they can then be dehydrated for 8-12 hours at low temperature to enable - once again - long term dry storage.  If left wet after soaking they quickly become moldy.  These are all techniques greatly practiced by the raw vegan community and there's much information on the net should you wish to research it further.

By the way Tyler I was reading some site and it said that even the shell-on nuts are heated, but I didn't look in much detail and I'm off to sleep now. G'night.

Yes, this is probably true and, as Tyler said, is certainly more likely in the US.  It's my understanding now that all nuts in the US are irradiated too so one wouldn't want to touch them with a barge pole!!  We're a little more fortunate here and in the rest of Europe from this perspective (for now at least!).  Heat is applied to crack open the shells for shelling.  I see little advantage to the producers in heating them for storage as unshelled nuts as nature has prepared them satisfactorily for long term storage already.

Of course, raw is again correct in stating that the ideal situation is to have your own nut tree (or at least access to a wild tree!).  I've located a couple of local English walnut trees myself which supplied sufficient quantities last season.