Regular Pistachio Kernel
Also sold as: natural kernel · skin-on kernel · iç fıstık (Turkey)
The shelled kernel with its natural skin on: purple-red outside, greenish-yellow inside. This is the everyday industrial kernel — the one that goes into baking, confectionery, and nut butters.
Kernel is graded by wholeness rather than by count. Whole kernel commands the highest price; splits and pieces are priced lower and are usually the better choice where the nut is ground or blended.
Specification
| Product | |
| Product group | Shelled pistachio kernel, raw, skin on |
|---|---|
| Source | Closed-shell pistachios opened on a breaking line |
| Base varieties | Fandoghi (Round) · Kalleh Ghouchi (Jumbo) · Ahmad Aghaei (Long) · Akbari (Super Long) — single variety on request |
| Skin colour | Purple to reddish-brown |
| Kernel colour | Greenish-yellow |
| Grades | Whole kernel · splits · pieces |
| Whole kernel content | ≥ 90% in whole-kernel grade |
| Flavour | Raw — unroasted, unsalted, no additives |
| Origin | Iran (Kerman) or Turkey (Gaziantep) — declared per lot |
| Harvest | September – October |
| Food safety | |
| Moisture | ≤ 6% |
| Aflatoxin B1 | ≤ 8 µg/kg |
| Aflatoxin, total | ≤ 10 µg/kg |
| Foreign matter | ≤ 0.1% |
| Pesticide residues | Within EU MRLs |
| Testing | Aflatoxin by HPLC, per lot, accredited laboratory |
| Metal detection | Final product passes metal detector and optical sorter |
| Packing & logistics | |
| Bulk packing | 10 kg cartons with inner vacuum poly bag · 25 kg cartons |
| Smallest pack | 1 kg vacuum — we do not supply below 1 kg |
| Shelf life | 12 months in original unopened packing |
| Storage | 0–10 °C, relative humidity below 65%, no direct sunlight |
| HS code | 0802.52 — pistachios, shelled |
| Loading | approx. 18–20 t per 40 ft container |
| Order sizes | Samples from 1 kg · trial lots from 25 kg · FCL 18–20 t |
| Incoterms | EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF — on agreement |
Values are our standard commercial specification. Tighter tolerances can be agreed for a specific programme and are confirmed in writing before the first shipment. Aflatoxin limits follow the EU maximum levels for nuts intended for direct human consumption.
What it is
Regular kernel is produced from closed-shell pistachios — nuts whose shells did not split naturally on the tree. They are opened mechanically on a breaking line, and the kernel is separated from the shell. Because the process applies pressure, a proportion of kernels break, which is why the product is sold in three grades rather than one.
What it means for your order
Kernel is far more fragile than in-shell product and much higher in oil, so it needs different handling: vacuum packing, cooler storage, and a shorter chain. Specify whole kernel only when the nut stays visible in the finished product. If it is being ground, roasted into a paste, or folded into a dough, splits and pieces do the same job at a lower cost.
Who Buys It
Bakery
Cakes, cookies, pastry fillings, and breads.
Confectionery
Baklava, halva, nougat, and chocolate inclusions.
Ice cream
Whole or chopped kernel through the mix or as topping.
Nut butters
Ground into pure pistachio paste and spreads.
Is It Right For You?
Straight answer, not a sales pitch. If this is the wrong product for your application, tell us what you are making and we will point you at the right one.
Best for
- Bakery, pastry and confectionery
- Nut butters, paste and ground applications
- Anywhere the kernel is chopped, baked or blended
Not the right choice for
- Applications that need deep green colour
- Gelato and decoration — use green peeled instead
- In-shell retail and snacking
Packing Formats
Vacuum-sealed inner bag in a carton — the standard kernel format, and the one we recommend.
Carton for high-throughput industrial intake.
Smallest pack we supply, under your own label.
Every shipment travels with a lot-specific aflatoxin analysis. Certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, and Halal documentation are issued on request.
Need a full specification sheet?
We send a written spec sheet with agreed tolerances, packing details, and the documentation that travels with each shipment.
Nutrition, per 100 g
Typical values for raw pistachio kernel. Exact figures vary by variety, season, and growing region; a lot-specific analysis is available on request.
| Energy | 560 kcal / 2 343 kJ |
| Fat | 45.3 g |
| — of which saturates | 5.9 g |
| — of which monounsaturated | 23.3 g |
| Carbohydrate | 27.2 g |
| — of which sugars | 7.7 g |
| Fibre | 10.6 g |
| Protein | 20.2 g |
| Salt | < 0.01 g |
| Potassium | 1 025 mg |
| Phosphorus | 490 mg |
| Magnesium | 121 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 1.7 mg |
| Vitamin E | 2.3 mg |
Request a Quote — Regular Pistachio Kernel
Tell us the size or grade, the quantity, and the packing format you need. We reply with pricing, availability, and lead time.
Samples are available before you commit to a commercial order.
We work exclusively with pistachios — no other nuts, no distractions.