How to Tell Chinese Walnuts from Iranian Walnuts
Walnuts are among the most delicious and nutritious nuts in the world, used in various foods, desserts, and sweets. Fortunately, Iran is one of the largest producersof walnutsin the world, known for high-quality walnuts. However, some opportunists nowadays mislabel inferior Chinese walnuts, which closely resemble Iranian walnuts, as Iranian products
You have asked us to explain the differences between these two types of walnuts so that you can make the right decision when buying. There are methods to distinguish Chinese walnuts from Iranian ones, and we have mentioned them in this section ofSelMagzto help you easily identify pure Iranian walnuts from inferior types.
Differences between Iranian and Chinese Walnuts in Quality
Chinese walnuts have significantly lower quality, and the oil obtained from them is minimal. In contrast, Iranian walnuts are of high quality; when you press the walnut’s kernel between your fingers, more oil is released, indicating better quality.
Differences between Iranian and Chinese Walnuts in Price
Chinese walnuts are sold at lower prices because their cultivation does not require the same care as Iranian walnuts, making them cheaper due to their lower quality.
Differences between Iranian and Chinese Walnuts in Shell Color
The lighter the walnut’s shell, the more likely it is to be foreign and imported. Chinese walnuts have lighter shells, while Iranian walnuts typically have darker shells unless they have been peeled and washed.
Differences between Iranian and Chinese Walnuts in Size
Chinese walnuts appear uniform in size, whereas Iranian walnuts, due to organic production, do not have a uniform appearance.
Differences between Iranian and Chinese Walnuts in Taste
Iranian walnuts have a much better and fresher taste compared to Chinese walnuts. The flavor of Iranian walnuts is slightly astringent and contains more fat than Chinese ones.
Differences between Iranian and Chinese Walnuts in Weight
If you shake a walnut and it feels heavy, it means it contains more kernel. The kernel gives a sensation of more fat when consuming the walnut. Iranian walnuts are heavier, while Chinese walnuts are lighter, and shaking them produces a sound from the shell and kernel hitting each other.
Differences between Iranian and Chinese Walnuts in Nutritional Value
Iranian walnuts are organic and natural, rich in essential minerals like copper and phosphorus,potassiumand… along with unsaturated fatty acids likeomega-3which prevent many diseases and offer numerous health benefits.
Differences between Iranian and Chinese Walnuts in Shell Type
Most Chinese walnuts are of the paper shell variety and can be easily cracked and separated by hand. However, even if they are of the paper shell type, Iranian walnuts tend to have thicker shells that may not break easily by hand.
Tips for Choosing Good Walnuts
- Smell several walnuts; poor quality and stale walnuts give off an off or unpleasant odor.
- Fresh and high-quality walnuts have a delightful and astringent taste without any stale or musty flavor, and when you chew them, you shouldn’t feel excessive bitterness or irritation in your throat.
- Keep in mind that the aroma and taste of Iranian walnuts are generally stronger and better than those of foreign walnuts.
- The oilier the walnut, the better and higher the quality.
- Avoid buying walnuts that have yellow spots on them.
- If you want delicious and high-quality Iranian walnuts, don’t just look for very large and uniform ones.
- Buy walnuts that are perfectly round; elongated and oval walnuts usually have thicker shells and are harder to separate the kernels from, making them easier to break.
- The best and most reliable way to ensure the freshness and quality of a walnut is to buy it from a trusted farmer or seller.
