Brazil Nuts Grades Explained: Large, Medium, Midget & More

How Grading Works

Brazil nuts are graded by count-per-pound: the number of individual nuts (in-shell) or kernels (shelled) it takes to make up one pound. A lower count means larger individual nuts; a higher count means smaller ones. Grade names like "Large" or "Medium" are commercial labels attached to a specific count range — they aren't standardized identically across every supplier or every tree nut category, so the count range is the number that actually matters on a specification sheet, not the label alone.

In Shell Grades

See the full In Shell specification page.

Shelled Whole Grades

Midget is a genuine commercial grade, not a substandard one — see the dedicated Midget 160/180 page for detail. Full specification on the Shelled Whole page.

Broken & Granulated Grading

Shelled Broken is graded by piece size rather than count-per-pound — typically described as fractions of a whole kernel (M, S, SS). Granulated is graded by particle size in millimeters. Both are specified by the end use rather than by a count standard, since piece/particle size is set by processing rather than natural kernel size.

Choosing the Right Grade

Larger grades (Large, Extra Large) are typically chosen where kernel appearance matters — premium snacking, retail in-shell. Smaller grades (Midget, Tiny) are frequently specified for manufacturing use, where kernel size affects formulation consistency more than visual presentation, and are not a lower quality tier — simply a different size specification. When in doubt, request samples of the specific grade before confirming a commercial order.