Dry Fruits & Nuts — Line 04
Pistachios
In-shell, kernels and slivers, graded by count and colour. Bought against a lot certificate rather than a photograph, and aflatoxin tested before anything leaves origin.
About the line
Count, colour, and the split.
Pistachios are traded on three things. Count is the number of nuts per ounce or per hundred grams, and it is the closest thing to a size grade — a lower count means a larger nut and a higher price. Colour matters because the green in a pistachio kernel is what buyers in bakery, confectionery and ice cream are actually paying for; a pale kernel eats the same and photographs badly. And on in-shell material the split percentage decides whether the consumer can open it without a tool.
Underneath all of that sits aflatoxin. Pistachios are among the highest-risk nuts for aflatoxin contamination and Great Britain enforces strict maximum levels, with consignments from certain origins subject to increased official controls at the border. We buy lots that have been tested at origin and we ship with the certificate attached, because the alternative — discovering the problem at a UK port — costs far more than the testing ever did.
Grades
How pistachios are specified.
Tell us the format and the count and we will quote against it. If you are unsure, send us the product you are currently buying and we will match the grade.
| Format | Grade | Typical count | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-shell, roasted & salted | Naturally opened, ≥85% split | 20–22 per oz | Retail packs, snacking, food service |
| In-shell, raw | Naturally opened | 20–24 per oz | Own roasting, repackers |
| Kernels, whole | Greens and light greens | — | Bakery, confectionery, ice cream |
| Kernels, slivered / halves | To specification | — | Decoration, inclusions, mithai |
| Kernel powder | To specification | — | Fillings, pastes, dairy |
Specification
Moisture below 6% on kernels. Aflatoxin within GB maximum levels and certified per lot. Foreign matter, shell fragment and defect tolerances agreed before shipment, not after.
Packing
10 kg and 12.5 kg vacuum packs or food-grade cartons, palletised. Nitrogen flush on request, which is worth taking on kernels because pistachio fat oxidises quickly once the shell is off.
Applications
Retail snacking, bakery and patisserie, ice cream and dairy, confectionery and mithai, cereal and bar inclusions, and gifting assortments.
FAQ
Questions buyers ask
Why are the kernels sometimes pale rather than green?
Colour depends on variety, harvest timing and how quickly the crop was dried. Later-harvested and slower-dried nuts lose green. If colour is commercially important to you — and in ice cream, bakery and mithai it usually is — specify it and we will quote against a colour grade rather than a generic kernel price.
Do you supply Iranian pistachios?
We source primarily from India and will tell you the origin of any lot before you commit. Origin affects both price and the level of official border control a consignment attracts, so it is not a detail we leave off a quotation.
What is the minimum order?
One pallet per line. On a first order we will accept a mixed pallet across two or more lines so you can trial the range without committing a full pallet to each.
What testing is done before shipment?
Aflatoxin, pesticide residue, moisture, microbiology and foreign-matter screening as standard, reported on a Certificate of Analysis tied to the lot you are buying. We test before the goods ship, not after they land, because a failed consignment sitting in a UK bonded warehouse is nobody's idea of a saving.
Who handles importing and customs?
We do. Aarleez Ltd is the importer of record, clears GB import controls, and quotes delivered duty paid to your address, so the number you accept is the number you pay. Ex-warehouse collection is available if you prefer to run your own leg.
How long from order to delivery?
One to two weeks from order confirmation to a UK address on lines we hold or can draw against. Crop-dependent lines can take longer, and we quote the real date rather than the optimistic one.
Can you pack under our own brand?
Yes. Retail-ready and private-label packing is available, including nitrogen flush where shelf life matters. Send us your artwork and pack format and we will quote the packed price rather than the bulk price plus a vague conversion cost.
Also in the range
The rest of the dry fruit range.
Next step
Ask for a pistachio quotation.
Tell us the count and the format and we will send the lot certificate and a delivered UK price.