by Justin S » Wed Sep 07, 2016 6:10 pm
Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster. I have been following this forum for quite some time. I've never registered because, up until now, there has never been a topic to which I felt needed a response from me. However, this thread on raw peanuts hit home.
I grew up farming peanuts (among other crops) south of Valdosta, Ga. across the state line near Jennings, FL. This was way back in the 60s, 70s & 80s. The poster who said that raw GREEN peanuts are needed for boiling is absolutely correct. There is no other way to get the true taste of fresh boiled peanuts. Most people haven't had the opportunity to go out into the field early in the morning, pick off a bushel of green peanuts, put them on to boil and have them as a snack by mid-morning!!
I've been in Louisville for about thirty years now and still bring back a bushel or two when I go back to the farm on which my brother still lives and grows crops; albeit in a greatly reduced capacity. When I run out of peanuts, Hardy Farms in Hawkinsville, GA (mentioned by another poster) does a very good job for mail order peanuts; boiled, or green. They have what is known as the Virginia peanut which is a larger variety and the ones we used to grow, Florida runners; a smaller variety but with more flavor IMO.
There is a source for raw green peanuts here in Louisville. I happened upon it by chance. The Indian market on Hurstbourne next to Shalimar has them, or at least they did when last I was there about a month ago. When I boiled them, the taste was spot on. The shell was a little tougher than ones fresh out of the ground, but not a problem for me.
Fresh green boiled peanuts need to be refrigerated if they are not eaten within a day. If not the shell will become slimy and the nuts go rancid.
Sorry for the long post!