Yantai Large Peanuts

Yantai Large Peanuts

　　Yantai Large Peanuts

　　Yantai enjoys a mild climate, loose soil, and moderate rainfall—natural conditions that are exceptionally well-suited for growing large peanuts. In the mid-19th century, large peanuts were introduced to Yantai from abroad and quickly spread across the region. By the 1930s, they had been widely cultivated in most mountainous areas of the region, becoming a major cash crop in Yantai’s rural areas. The city currently has 116,000 hectares under peanut cultivation, with an annual output of over 350,000 tons.

　　Peanuts are not only a highly nutritious food but also possess significant medicinal value. According to traditional Chinese medical texts such as "Essentials of Materia Medica," "Materia Medica of Southern Yunnan," and "Pharmacological Properties," peanut kernels can "strengthen the spleen and moisten the lungs," "benefit the middle energizer and boost qi," and "stimulate the appetite and invigorate the spleen." They can also treat conditions such as beriberi and insufficient breast milk in women. "Boiling in salted water can cure tuberculosis, while stir-frying helps clear heat and invigorate blood circulation, treating all types of abdominal cold accumulation and stomach pain." Peanut skins processed into syrups and other medicinal forms can be used to treat hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. Peanut oil can help address ascariasis-induced intestinal obstruction and enteritis. Peanut shells also offer certain therapeutic effects for chronic cough, wheezing, and coughing up blood-streaked phlegm. Peanut leaves can additionally be used to treat neurasthenia and insomnia.

　　Yantai large peanuts are large in size, with the longest ones reaching up to 7 centimeters; the kernels are plump, with 100-kernel weight reaching 200–240 grams; the shells are clean white, brightly colored, and the peanuts are crisp and delicious. With a growth period as long as 170–180 days, their amino acid synthesis is relatively comprehensive, and they have high levels of protein and vitamins, making them highly nutritious. They meet international trade standards and are a major traditional export commodity of China.