Earthnuts, goobers, pinders, peanuts, jack nuts, or Arachis hypogaea – the peanut has many names. Falsely termed as a nut, this leguminous plant matures beneath the ground.

The peanut plant is 20-50cm tall and its flowers only open for a few hours in the morning. After self-pollinating, the fertilised flowers lean downwards and dig themselves a few centimetres into the soil. It is only there, that what we know as peanuts grow. They mostly grow in pairs and within 4-5 months. A woody, net-like shell protects the seeds from the soil.

In order to get the delicious seeds, the main root is cut during harvest and the bush is pulled from the earth. This is then dried for 2-4 weeks.

The peanut plant is extremely particular in regards to the correct temperature for germinating and maturing. 30-40 degrees is optimal for the plant to germinate. 25-30 degrees is optimal for its further development. Therefore, the peanut plant grows best between 40 degrees latitude north and 35 degrees latitude south.

Peanuts possess a high content of protein and fat, dietary fibres, magnesium, and potassium. This makes them particularly important for human nutrition.

However, the nutritional content of peanuts, as well as their composition of protein and fat, can vary widely. This depends on farming conditions and climate. The oil content of peanuts can vary between 20% and 50%.

The wild variety of the peanut plant was already cultivated in the Andes, Colombia, 3000 to 2000 years BC. However, the peanut seems to originally come from Brazil. Its triumphant advance as a snack began after soldiers used it as a source of nourishment during the American Civil War (1861-65).

Today, the peanut is used in a variety of ways. In Asian cuisine it is used as a peanut paste in cooking. In the USA it is particularly popular as peanut butter. Here in Europe it is enjoyed as a delicious snack.

We at RITTER SPORT thought to ourselves, why not combine two delicious treats? Delicious RITTER SPORT chocolate and crunchy roasted peanuts. This was the birth of a particularly great treat: RITTER SPORT Milk Chocolate with Peanuts.