Made from the seed of the cacao tree, chocolate is one of the most widely enjoyed confectionary treats in the world. It was first cultivated in Central America around 1100 B.C. and introduced to Europe by the Spaniards in the 1600s. The Mayans originally consumed chocolate as a bitter beverage before Spain began adding sugar to make it sweet. It was a drink associated with royalty because it was an expensive import often reserved for religious events. The first European chocolate house opened in England in 1657. Soon chocolate was being cultivated in plantations where workers tended, harvested and processed cacao and sugar cane. The Industrial Revolution changed the way chocolate was produced, making it available to a wholesale chocolate suppliers market by cutting the shipping costs, allowing North America to enjoy chocolate imports as well.

Today most of the world’s cocoa beans are produced in the African country of Côte d’Ivoire. Other top producers include Ghana, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Togo. Cacao trees require the nutrient-rich soil often found in these rainforest regions. The cultivation process involves a mix of human labor and mechanical manufacturing. Cocoa beans are grown in pods, where they are hand picked, split open and the cocoa beans are removed. From there, the beans are cleaned and fermented in large shallow bins and heated from the sun, where they are periodically mixed over 5-8 days until the beans turn brown. The beans are then dried and packed to ship to chocolate factories. In the factory, beans are roasted, winnowed (removing outside hull and separating beans according to size) and ground into cocoa butter or chocolate. After, they are heated and melted into chocolate liquor and blended with milk and sugar, depending on the desired chocolate (dark, milk or white). The liquor is placed into molds, where it is cools and hardens into shape. It is then ready to be packaged and shipped to wholesale chocolate suppliers. Chocolate needs to be stored in specific temperature and humidity to avoid spoiling.

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, has its share of health benefits. Cocoa has natural antioxidants because it is a plant-based food. Antioxidants are known to improve cardiovascular health, promote low cholesterol and in some cases, reduce blood pressure. Dark chocolate has high flavanols, which improve blood flow and promote artery health. Cocoa butter contains healthy fats and is rich in minerals such as copper, magnesium and potassium. Wholesale chocolate suppliers have made getting chocolate easy it still needs to be consumed with restraint. Eating dark chocolate has been linked to feelings of pleasure because it contains Phenyl ethylamine (PEA), a compound responsible for boosting endorphins in the brain. In summary, chocolate does have health benefits, but because of sugar and other additives, it’s important to consume in moderation.

Chocolate has a rich history, from being favored by royalty to being vied for by the public. Today it is a staple in our culture made affordable by wholesale chocolate suppliers and is a popular treat during holidays, birthdays or whenever the mood strikes. You will find several unique chocolate varieties on our website, each available for your enjoyment.

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Popcorn dates back thousands of years ago, with evidence of fossilized cobs from as early as 4,700 B.C. in Peru and 3,600 B.C. in New Mexico. Since then, popcorn has become a staple food in North America and around the world. During the 1800s, up until the Great Depression, corn cultivation thrived because it was inexpensive to harvest and feed to families. As popularity increased, popcorn vendors began showing up in parks, circuses, carnivals, and at sporting events. In the 1900s, as movies and television emerged, 96% of U.S cinemas sold popcorn in their theatres, whereby earning its reputation as the ideal big-screen snack. The popcorn of that era was far different from the gourmet popcorn we have today.

Today most corn is grown in the American Corn Belt states, including Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa and Ohio. An adult popcorn stalk grows to about 8 feet in height, producing cobs encapsulated in husks. In order for kernels to be produced, pollination must occur. Pollination is when the strands from the cornhusk catch pollen from feathers on the top of the corn plant. After the plant is mature, it is harvested, dried, cleaned, separated, polished and ready to pop. For a more detailed cultivation process, visit Popcorn.org. This is the first step to getting gourmet popcorn.

Popcorn has three parts known as the endosperm, pericarp, and germ. As one of the five types of corn, popcorn is the only one that pops from its outside hull, the pericarp, when heated. The pericarp is usually yellow, but can be red, black, purple or white. Inside the pericarp, there is the endosperm, also known as the carbohydrate. The living part of the corn is called the germ. When heat is applied to the kernel, steam is created and the moisture inside the endosperm expands, rupturing the pericarp and bursting into a puffed mushroom or flower shape. This is due to a precise amount of moisture (13.5-14%) inside the kernel. If this moisture is not present, the kernel will not pop. There are several ways to cook gourmet popcorn, including stovetop, over the fire, in a hot air popper, or in a microwave, which revolutionized at-home consumption during the 1940s.

Popcorn is a good source of fiber and aids in digestion. As a natural food product, it is low in calories and does not contain much fat. Nutritionists even recommend this whole-grain snack as part of a healthy diet because it has antioxidants and complex-carbohydrates. However, its nutritional value changes when salt and other additives are added.

“Gourmet” popcorn can refer to all natural ingredients, locally grown crops, popped using a specialized technique or by adding a sweet or savory punch to the traditional corn. Anything from caramel, cheese and chocolate, to dill, ketchup or all dressed seasoning can be added to stimulate taste buds beyond the plain air popped crunch. Nuts, such as pecans or cashews, as well as chocolate pieces, can also be found in gourmet popcorn ( http://www.jerrysnuthouse.com/popcorn/ ) blends, making great snacks at birthday parties, game days and movie nights. Browse our delicious selection of gourmet popcorn and treat yourself to this timeless snack. Sharing is optional.

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Nuts are a snack too often taken for granted. Not as bright and flashy as candy and usually not packaged in shiny foil like potato chips, nuts can be fairly easy to overlook when thinking about snack food to serve. But if you think about it, if nuts vanished off the face of the earth tomorrow, we would all miss them terribly in pretty short order. Some of our favorite flavors come from nuts. Peanut butter, marzipan, almond brittle… these are just a few of the many reasons confectioners like to buy nuts in bulk. The world of candy just wouldn’t be the same without them!

Nuts are an essential ingredient in many beloved foods. From the simple (think trail mix) to the elegant (think Brazil nut truffles) to the truly sublime (rocky road fudge, pecan pie, yes please!), nuts aren’t just one of our favorite foods, they’re many of our favorite foods! Flexible and easy to work with, nuts are included in both sweet and savory dishes. Restaurants buy nuts in bulk to include them in everything from salads to desserts to crunchy crusts for baked fish… hungry yet? How about imagining a world without Thai peanut sauce, without Indian pistachio fudge or without salty-sweet cashew nuts to snack on at parties? It’s enough to make anyone want to go out and buy some nuts in bulk, just to stock up!

But there’s more than just delightful taste to make people buy nuts in bulk. Nuts are not only tasty, they’re wonderfully healthy. Nuts provide fiber, protein and essential vitamins and nutrients to people of all ages and in all cultures. Some of the earliest examples of prepared food involved regional nuts, either roasted or raw. We’ve been eating nuts for longer than we’ve been writing down the recipes! Doesn’t that just make you want to find the first person who invented roasted peanuts and give them a great big hug? If our ancestors hadn’t made the delightful discovery that nuts are edible, we wouldn’t be able to snack on raw almonds, toasted pecans or indulge our less health-obsessed side by having hazelnut chocolate spread on toast for breakfast. And that would be a tragedy.

Of course, it’s not just stores who buy nuts in bulk. Many people like to have a handy supply of their favorite snacking nuts within easy reach. If there’s a particular type of nuts that sees a lot of use in your household, buying nuts in bulk could be a cost-effective way to make sure that your favorite snack, or the ingredients to your favorite mean, are always available. After all, there’s nothing quite like deciding that you want to make macadamia nut cookies with white chocolate chunks and then discovering that you’ve run out of nuts.

Buying nuts in bulk is a smart and easy way to keep yourself in snacks, ingredients and good, healthy food ideas. Next time you’re looking for something to serve, something to bake, or just something to chop up and sprinkle on your ice cream, consider enriching your kitchen with a supply of your favorite flavor of nut!

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It always seems that there is a new fad diet or exercise plan guaranteed to help people lose weight. But most often small changes in lifestyle are needed, not a gimmick. A simple change of eating and snacking patterns, such as cutting out soda – full of useless sugar – goes a long way. Simply replacing high fat snacks such as chips and pastries with tasty and healthy bulk dried fruit will help go a long way in helping you to be healthier. Other small lifestyle changes such as taking short walks, or getting up to stretch during TV commercials can make a world of difference when trying to lose weight and improve fitness. You don’t have to commit to going to the gym five days a week as a way to better their lifestyle. Small changes are easier to maintain, and more likely to remain part of daily life.

As time goes on, and lifestyle changes are more permanent, And bulk dried fruit ( http://www.jerrysnuthouse.com/driedfruit/ ) such as mangoes, pineapples and papaya among other tasty and healthy choices, fit right in. Eating healthier foods makes people feel better and promote more energy. It is a perpetuating cycle towards healthier, happier lifestyles. Dried fruit is a perfect snack for hiking, golfing, even taking to work. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated, it is light and easy to transport. It can be part of trail mix and kept in the car to snack on at appropriate intervals.

Bulk dried fruit in different varieties is a thoughtful gift to give to friends. The message it inspires is one of “I care about your health, so I wanted to give you something that you could enjoy, and is good for you.” Plus, it also tastes really good! And it’s easily shared.

Fresh fruit can be difficult for some people to eat. The amount of acid present in fruits such as pineapples may make them impossible to enjoy. Bulk dried fruit alleviates those symptoms for many, so that they can enjoy the health and flavor benefits of a wide variety of exotic plants. Dried fruit can be made into delicious bouquets and presentations for parties; it can also be used in baking. The shapes, colors, and flavors make dried fruit a very versatile and attractive menu option.

Whether as a health improvement, lifestyle change, new attraction, or health remedy, bulk dried fruit tastes good, looks good, and is a choice that makes everyone feel good. Parents have no worries about feeding fruit to their children, and adults can enjoy it without guilt. Fruit is part of an active, healthy lifestyle, dried fruit brings more options than ever before for people on the go and Jerry’s has it all!

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Bulk Dried fruit sucks…

Do you make the mistake of buying yours from the grocery store?

Yeah if you get dried fruit from the wrong place it can be terrible.

But because on average we sell 51.6972222222222 items of dried fruit per day.
And that includes 25 lb case, 5lb bags and 14oz bags –
You can rest assured that our dried fruit is super fresh.

And we get the best or else we wouldn’t sell so much.

Plus you have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

So even if your reason for returning is -
“my cat spoke to me and told me he didn’t like it.”

You can call us for a curtious return.
Whether your looking for wholesale or retail bulk dried fruit
we know you’ll love it – because all of our current customers do.

Check out the selection
Bulk Dried Fruit

Cheers!

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Just about everyone likes popcorn. It’s easy to make, inexpensive to buy, healthy to eat and, of course, totally delicious! The warm taste and distinctive smell of popcorn bring all kinds of memories back, from cozy nights at home to exciting trips to the movies with friends. All of this makes popcorn an excellent gift to give to friends, co-workers or family. And there’s nothing wrong with making a delicious dish even tastier. So if you’re going to make a gift of popcorn, why not take it a step further and explore all the delicious gourmet popcorn options available to you?

One of the easiest and most popular ways to jazz up your popcorn at home is to add powdered flavoring to it.  Nearly everyone has tried popcorn with a coating of luscious cheddar cheese, tangy dill pickle or bold salt and vinegar flavoring. Best thing about this method of turning plain popcorn into gourmet popcorn is that it is incredibly simple to do. Many grocery stores sell popcorn seasoning in spice shakers, which makes your favorite flavor of popcorn just a spoonful of hot butter and a few shakes away. Popcorn flavor shakers along with popcorn kernels make an excellent gift. They keep for a long time and make for a light, hot snack with very little effort.

Gourmet popcorn, however, goes far beyond do-it-yourself shakers. If you want to make popcorn into a gift suitable for any occasion, there are ways to make popcorn into a wonderful and beautiful dessert that is easy to package up attractively. A candy coating, for example, can turn plain white popcorn into a bright rainbow of sweet color that melts in your mouth. When different colors of candy coating correspond to different flavors, it can be delightful to eat it one piece at a time to enjoy all the different tastes. What’s more, colored popcorn can be wrapped up in a clear plastic bag and decorated with a gift tag and some curled ribbon for a flashy, classy gift idea that’s as simple as it is lovely. A bag of candied gourmet popcorn can be adapted to fit almost any occasion by changing the color of the popcorn kernels. Red and green make it into a lovely Christmas gift. An assortment of spring hues turn a bag of popcorn into an Easter treat, and bright orange popcorn is a staple of Halloween parties everywhere.

Yet another way to enjoy gourmet popcorn is to combine it with other kinds of candy to turn it into a luscious dessert item. Popcorn coated with white chocolate and combined with bright chocolate candies makes for a decadent sweet treat to bring to a dinner party or shower. With a sticky candy coating, popcorn can be formed into balls or molded into hearts, stars and other shapes to make it appropriate for any occasion. Popcorn balls are both delicious and decorative, making them a brilliant way to include gourmet popcorn in both the décor and the dining at a party! And, of course, there is always the childhood favorite of caramel corn. Some things never get old.

Gourmet popcorn is more than just a sweet or savory treat. In some parts of the world, plain popcorn or brightly colored popcorn are strung together to make garlands for Christmas trees. Some families even use popcorn balls as Christmas ornaments (though families with pets or small children should be wary of using anything edible as a decoration if they want it to last all season).  Halloween is another celebration where gourmet popcorn sees a lot of use. Popcorn balls can be colored orange or green and do double-duty as festive pumpkins or spooky goblin faces. You’ve got to admit that the best kind of decoration is one that you can eat when you’re done with it!

Gourmet popcorn is one of the best and easiest gift ideas out there. It is tasty to eat, pretty to look at, and can be adapted to almost any occasion. Next time you’re at a loss for a quick and easy gift, or for a simple but glamorous dessert to bring to a party or potluck; consider shopping for some stylish, colorful and delicious popcorn to make your next event a success.

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By now most people know that nuts have health benefits. Although the advantages are different depending on which nuts you eat, nuts are generally low in cholesterol and high in protein, fiber and “good” fats. They also contain essential nutrients such as B vitamins, iron, potassium, magnesium and anti-oxidants (to name only a few). What some people may not realize is that roasted nuts may lose nutritional value during roasting. Raw nuts, therefore, are better if you choose to eat nuts for their health benefits.

If we’re honest, many of us will admit that we don’t always enjoy eating what’s good for our health. We think many nutrient-rich foods are poor in taste. Some people love raw nuts, but others find them boring and tasteless. Without the roasting or a coating, many people simply don’t enjoy the taste of raw nuts.

These people may feel they’re in a bind. They want to eat raw nuts for health, but they also want to enjoy their food. For those people, there are tasty solutions to end the dilemma.

Breakfast

First thing in the morning can be a great time to add raw nuts to your meal. You can eat a handful whole, but other ways to incorporate them into the most important meal of the day will add variety to your morning. You can add finely chopped raw nuts to breakfast foods you may already eat: cereal, a fruit salad, a cup of yogurt or a yogurt smoothie. You can add them to baking too; homemade muffins or granola bars start the day deliciously—and you can carry some to work for later. Ambitious kitchen magicians can even make nut butters for their morning toast or bagels. Peanut and almond are the most popular nut butters, but almost any nut can be blended into a spread.

Lunch

Many people suffer from a post-lunch slump. Why not liven up lunch with raw nuts for an energy boost? Toss some on your salad instead of croutons, mix some into your tuna or chicken salad sandwich, sprinkle some on a pasta dish for extra crunch. The only limit to the ways you can use them at lunch time is your creativity.

Dinner

Dinner can be hard for some people to prepare. Drained from a busy work day, they are out of great ideas for adding spark to basic meals. Raw nuts can help here too. These suggestions can be prepared ahead of time and then, when you get home exhausted, you can throw together a quick yet tempting meal.

Try these ideas: keep a jar of crushed raw nuts to use instead of breadcrumbs as a coating for chicken or as a mixer in your meatloaf or meatballs, make homemade pesto sauce with raw nuts for pasta or meat dishes or throw some into homemade salad dressing to change the flavor.

Endless Possibilities

Raw nuts can compliment any meal. All you need is determination and imagination. One final tip is to use different nuts for the above ideas. For example, one week add almonds to your salad dressing; the next week switch it up and add pecans instead. In this way, the possibilities are endless.

The post Add Variety and Nutrition to Your Meals with Raw Nut appeared first on Jerry's Nut House.

Almonds can be consumed raw, roasted or featured in a culinary creation. Dry roasting is a process in which heat is applied to dry foods without using water or adding any other moisture, such as oil, to the food. This can be done in a specialized roaster, a standard frying pan or oven. Nuts, cocoa beans and tealeaves are a few foods that are traditionally dry roasted. Roasted almonds arguably taste crisper, drier and contain less fat than a normal almond. Most people prefer the smoked taste to the raw nutty flavor. According to the University of California, roasted almonds are easier to digest because of their crisp texture and don’t contribute to indigestion.

The process of dry roasting goes as follows: Almonds are added to a frying pan, which has been heated to a medium temperature of below 170 degrees Fahrenheit. The pan is moved around continuously to ensure the nuts do not burn and destroy the flavor. The almonds will darken to a rich brown color and produce a distinct smoked nut smell. After they are roasted, the roasted almonds need time to cool so they can harden to a crisp texture.

Almonds are considered one of the healthiest foods, with a high source of vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, copper, riboflavin and phosphorous. Although almonds are high in fat, the fat is known as healthy because it helps lower the risk of heart disease, heart attack, high cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Other health benefits include antioxidants, improved blood fats, possible weight loss, increased energy, strong bones and prevention against gallstones. Nutrients are the same in both raw and roasted almonds.

If almonds are roasted to a temperature above 170 degrees Fahrenheit, it will often destroy the nutritional value. Heating almonds to a high temperature over a period of time can also lead to the development of acrylamide, which is a chemical contaminant, naturally formed on foods rich in carbohydrates, such as roasted almonds. It is still unclear the exact risks acrylamide has on humans, but it is considered a toxin.

Almonds are seeds derived from the Prunus dulcis tree, grown in the Middle East and Southern Asia. The almond tree itself produces a fruit, called a drupe, with a pit similar to a peach or nectarine. There are both sweet and bitter almonds, based on where it’s grown. Typically, sweeter almonds are found in California, South Africa, Australia and parts of the Eastern Mediterranean. Bitter almonds grow close to its origin in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The difference lies in the toxic chemical, amygdalin, found in the bitter almonds. Sweeter almonds do not contain amygdalin and can be consumed raw or dry roasted to produce roasted almonds. To extract the amygdalin from the bitter almonds, the almonds must be heated.

Raw and roasted almonds both pack high nutritional value and should be a staple part of any person’s diet to help prevent against disease and stay healthy. Nut quality is especially important and the consumer should always be particular about choosing the best, freshest smelling almonds available.

The post Roasted Almonds: The Origin, Health Benefits and Process of Dry Roasting appeared first on Jerry's Nut House.

Bulk candy can be served during any occasion or event, such as holiday celebrations, weddings, birthday parties, graduations, carnivals, parades and corporate functions – providing a sweet addition to any gathering.

Weddings everywhere are utilizing bulk candy as wedding favors, table snacks and even as its own dessert buffet. More brides are turning to candy to save on the expense of dessert. In addition to satisfying both young and old guests, candy can also be used for wedding décor purposes. Mixing and matching a candy centerpiece with décor has become popular in modern weddings, as well as choosing complimentary candy colors to pair with bridesmaid dresses.

Some tips for dealing with candy at a wedding:

-    Be aware of other people’s dietary, vegan or health concerns and offer a supplement to the sugar buffet.
-    Note the temperature of wedding venue and avoiding ordering chocolate or other candy that might melt with heat.
-    For hygienic reasons, a scoop or tongs should be used to dish up the candy.
-    Order bulk candy to ensure there is enough for each guest.
-    Leftover candy can be sent home with guests as a party favor.

Wherever there are children, there is demand for candy. Children’s birthday parties require bulk candy to give away as prizes for party games, such as pin the tail on the donkey or musical chairs. Candy can also be stuffed into a piñata for children to retrieve using a bat. Lastly, goodie bags should not be forgotten, as most kids judge a party by the amount of treats they can take home with them.

School or charity carnivals are popular events for bulk candy consumption. Kids look forward to candy prizes after bobbing their head for apples or doing the beanbag toss. Teachers and parents share their own form of trickery by using candy as motivation. Whether it’s chocolate, cookies, or ice cream, chores and good grades are sure to be achieved when sugar is involved.

Corporate functions are taking the same direction in their candy cravings. Bulk candy is being set out at corporate events as an icebreaker for employees to enjoy while networking with each other. It has been proven that a shared candy or treat in a work environment encourages camaraderie among employees. During corporate presentations or proposals, candy is also used to welcome clients and start the presentation on a good sugary note.

Mascots on parade floats toss out bulk candy to children as they ride down the street in the procession. The children wait anxiously to gather a selection of tootsie rolls, peanuts, lollipops, caramel taffy, gumballs and more.

With celebration, comes indulgence. Bulk candy provides that special touch to any event. Due to popularity and low expense, more and more people are choosing to buy candy in bulk. Not only does it cut down on price, but it also lowers the amount of packaging, keeps for a long time, saves on holiday shopping and preparation, and is perfect for those last minute get-togethers!

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Yep that’s right I can stay lookin GOOOOOD and…
please Filibert (my secret inner fat kid).

Filbert loves chocolate – he can’t get enough. I’ve tried feeding him other things — the freshest veggies, super sweet and succulent strawberries, even the best fillet minion EVER. Oh i’ve tricking him into liking something “heathy” , but he’s just not gonna go for it.

There is just no substitute for something sweet and especially for that chocolate craving. So Filbert this one’s for you!
You can have your chocolate (I’ll even let you eat it in public while everyone watches) because now I can feel great about eating it too!

The health benefits of dark chocolate are still coming to the fore! Read about the latest vote of confidence from the European Food Safety Authority

Continue Reading

Source: Rss

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