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Quick answer
Brazil nuts are large, creamy, crescent-shaped nuts that grow on tall wild trees in the Amazon rainforest. They are the richest common food source of selenium, a mineral the body needs only in tiny amounts, so a single nut can supply roughly a day’s worth. That is why one or two Brazil nuts a day is the usual advice.
They taste mild, soft and milky, a little like a cross between a coconut and a cashew, and they are the biggest nut most people will ever buy. Treat them as a small daily extra, not a nut to eat by the handful.
What are Brazil nuts called in Hindi?
Brazil nuts have no traditional Hindi name; in Hindi they are simply called Brazil nut, written ब्राज़ील नट. The tree does not grow in India, and the nut reached Indian shops only as an import, so every Indian language uses the English name.
Botanically the tree is Bertholletia excelsa. Despite the name, much of the world’s supply is gathered in Bolivia as well as Brazil and Peru. The nuts are collected from the forest floor after large, hard, round pods fall from the trees; each pod holds a cluster of nuts packed inside like segments of an orange. For the Hindi names of nuts that do have them, see our list of dry fruit names in English and Hindi.
How many Brazil nuts should you eat a day?
One or two Brazil nuts a day is the common advice for an adult, and many people eat them only a few times a week. The reason is selenium. Brazil nuts contain about 1,900 micrograms (µg) of selenium per 100 g on average, and a single nut weighs about 5 g.
For context, an adult needs roughly 55 µg of selenium a day, and the widely used safe upper limit for adults is 400 µg a day. A single average nut can meet or pass that daily need on its own, and a handful of five or more every day could take a person over the upper limit if kept up for weeks. The exact amount also varies a great deal from nut to nut, depending on the soil where the tree grew, which is another reason to keep the number small.
- Adults: one or two nuts a day, or a few times a week.
- Children: ask your doctor first. Whole nuts are a choking risk for children under five.
- Pregnancy, thyroid or any condition: ask your doctor before making Brazil nuts a daily habit, especially if you already take a supplement containing selenium.
- Nut allergy: avoid unless your doctor says otherwise.
Brazil nuts compared with other nuts
Brazil nuts are similar to other nuts in energy and fat, but stand far apart in selenium. The approximate figures below are per 100 g of raw kernel, from standard food composition tables.
| Nut | Energy (about) | Protein (about) | Selenium (about) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil nut | 660 kcal | 14 g | 1,900 µg |
| Cashew (kaju) | 550 kcal | 18 g | 20 µg |
| Walnut (akhrot) | 650 kcal | 15 g | 5 µg |
| Almond (badam) | 580 kcal | 21 g | 4 µg |
That gap is the whole story. For everyday handful eating, badam, akhrot and kaju remain the base, and a Brazil nut or two is added on top. Our protein-rich dry fruits page covers the everyday nuts in more detail.
How do you eat Brazil nuts?
Brazil nuts are eaten raw, straight from the pack, and need no soaking, roasting or peeling. Because they are so large, most people bite one in two or chop it.
- As they are: one or two with your morning badam and kishmish.
- Chopped: over oats, muesli, fruit or yoghurt.
- In a mix: one or two per person in a jar of mixed nuts, rather than a scoop.
- In a gift box: their size makes them stand out beside hazelnuts and pecans.
- Lightly toasted: a few minutes in a dry pan brings out a nuttier taste, though most people prefer them raw.
Because of the selenium, we would not make Brazil nuts the main nut in a laddoo, a chikki or a nut butter that you eat by the spoonful every day.
How should you store Brazil nuts?
Store Brazil nuts in an airtight container in the fridge, where they keep well for a few months, or in the freezer for longer. They are very high in fat, much of it polyunsaturated, which goes rancid quickly in warm rooms and in light.
- Keep them in a sealed jar or zip bag, never an open bowl.
- Move them to the fridge in summer, or as soon as the pack is opened.
- Take out only a few days’ supply at a time.
- Throw away any nut that smells sharp, bitter or like paint. That is rancid fat, and it will not improve.
A good Brazil nut is creamy white inside, firm, and smells faintly sweet. As you only need one or two a day, a small pack goes a long way; our Brazil Nuts come in 100 g, which is several weeks of one-a-day eating for one person. They sit on our Imported Nuts shelf. See today’s price on the product page.
Questions people ask
Why should you eat only one or two Brazil nuts a day?
Because they are so rich in selenium. A single nut can hold about a day’s requirement, and eating many every day can push intake past the safe upper limit for adults.
What is the Hindi name of Brazil nut?
There is no traditional Hindi name. In Hindi it is called Brazil nut (ब्राज़ील नट).
Do Brazil nuts need to be soaked?
No. They are eaten raw from the pack. Soaking does no harm, but it does not change the selenium content.
Can children eat Brazil nuts?
Ask your doctor about amounts for children. Whole nuts are a choking risk for children under five, so never give them whole to small children.
How long do Brazil nuts last?
Sealed in the fridge, a few months. At room temperature in an Indian summer they can turn rancid within weeks, so keep them cold once opened.
We send imported nuts across India; orders start at ₹1,000 and every order ships free. A small pack of Brazil nuts fits easily into an order of everyday badam and akhrot.
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Written at our counter, where these questions get asked every week.
