Nonpareil Almonds

California's premium variety — clean blanching, uniform kernel

Nonpareil is the benchmark California almond variety and commands a premium over the California and Mission types for reasons that are functional rather than reputational. The kernel is smooth-skinned, flat and notably uniform in shape, with a thin shell that shells cleanly and leaves fewer chips and scratches — which matters because a marked kernel shows through in a blanched or slivered product. It blanches to a clean, even white, cuts and slivers without shattering, and roasts uniformly. Sizes are contracted in count per ounce — 18/20, 20/22, 23/25, 25/27 and 27/30, with the lower counts being larger kernels — at moisture ≤ 6%, foreign material ≤ 0.5%, chipped and scratched within grade limits, and aflatoxin controlled to the destination's limits.

Buy Nonpareil where the kernel is seen or further processed into a visible form: blanched whole, slivered, sliced and diced products, premium retail in clear packs, confectionery panning, marzipan, and any application where an even, unmarked kernel is part of the product. Buy the California types — Carmel, Monterey, Independence — where the almond is roasted whole in a mixed snack, ground into flour or butter, or otherwise not inspected; they cost less and perform identically once processed. One specification point that catches new buyers: almonds shipped to the United States must be pasteurised under the USDA mandatory programme, by steam or propylene oxide, and several EU retail programmes require steam specifically and refuse PPO. Nominate which you need, because it is not interchangeable. CBIL supplies against certification of size count, moisture, foreign material, aflatoxin, pasteurisation method and microbiology, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms.