How To Activate Walnuts

Since we launched our new products, new questions are coming, and we’re so glad to help you with some answers! Especially, after we launched our activated walnuts with caramel and maple syrup, we were asked a question specifically on

how to activate walnuts: warm or cold water?

First of all, let us give you a quick list of what are the benefits of eating walnuts:

Walnuts are a great source of iron, selenium, calcium, zinc, vitamin E and some B vitamins. They contain mono-unsaturated fats, but they are also a rich source of the essential fatty acid omega-3, which can help fight depression, and support brain and eye health.

Walnuts contain plant sterols which help in controlling blood cholesterol level and increase the good cholesterol (HDL) levels in your body. They also have anti-inflammatory qualities, can help lower blood pressure and promote gut health.

Eating walnuts during pregnancy has benefits not only for the pregnant woman but also for the child later:

• higher intelligence,
• good communication and social skills,
• fewer behavioural problems,
• decreased risk of developmental delay.

Read more on the health benefits of nuts.

If walnuts are good, why do we need activated walnuts?

Like all raw nuts and seeds, walnuts also contain enzyme inhibitors and phytic acid. These can stop our body from absorbing their nutrients fully. They also reduce the digestibility of these foods.

People consuming raw nuts regularly may experience poor digestion, gas, and bloating, or even stomach ache.

Soaking walnuts in salty water for about 8-10 hours not only helps digestion and nutrient absorption but also improves their taste. In fact, raw walnuts can taste bitter sometimes, but activated walnuts are particularly mild in taste since the soaking reduces their bitterness. Additionally, after they have been fully dehydrated, they also become crispier!

By the way, grains and legumes contain the same natural chemicals and for easier absorption, it’s recommended to soak them before cooking with them.

How to activate walnuts: warm or cold water?

Coming to the question we were asked, there are different opinions in regards to the temperature of the water we soak the nuts in. The most popular way is to use filtered (or at least clean drinking) water at room temperature. Hot water shortens the soaking time, but bear in mind that heat destroys the nutrients. Ideally, make sure the water temperature is not over 50-60 C.

If you use room temperature water soak the nuts in a bowl with enough water to cover them well because the walnuts will expand a bit during the soaking. Soak for eight to ten hours, then rinse them well until the water is clear. Your walnuts are now activated and you can enjoy their health benefits. You can keep them wet in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days. However, to keep them longer and to make a delicious crispy snack, it’s recommended to dry them in a dehydrator or oven until they are completely dry. To preserve their nutrients and their health qualities dry them at a low temperature, no higher than 75C. I do realise though that takes a long time, and when you make activated walnuts in your kitchen you don’t want to block your oven for hours, so feel free to adjust the drying time and temperature according to your time and taste.

Enjoy your walnuts!

And if you’d like to try activated walnuts which are flavoured deliciously with salted caramel. FOr the lovely caramel taste, we use our favourite natural sweetener maple syrup so our walnuts are refined sugar-free!

You don’t even need to get out to buy them! They will come straight to your door, delivered fortnightly with our easy subscription plan! Or you can buy them as a one-off purchase as a part of our maple syrup nuts multipack.

To receive more useful info about activated nuts and recipes join our mailing list here. You can also get 25% off your first order.

If you want some ideas on how to make some delicious treats with walnuts, click here.

Download two of our favourite walnut recipes here