When it comes to global trade in walnut kernels, not all nuts are created equal. Each grade, whether Light Halves, Amber Pieces, Broken Kernels, or Roasted Grades, has its own characteristics, market demand, and price range.

Understanding these classifications is essential for importers, distributors, and food manufacturers who want to source the right type of walnut for their target market.

At Tamila Agrifood, we specialize in grading, sorting, and supplying walnut kernels that meet the exact specifications of international buyers — from bakery processors in Europe to snack brands in the Middle East.

1. Light Halves (Extra Light & Light Amber Grades)

Light Halves are the most sought-after and premium grade of walnut kernels, prized for their appearance, flavor, and freshness.

•    Color: Pale ivory to light golden brown

•    Size: Large, uniform halves with minimal breakage

•    Flavor: Mild, buttery, and sweet

•    Moisture: Below 5%

•    Applications: Luxury snacks, confectionery, bakery, and export retail packaging

These kernels are harvested from high-altitude orchards with optimal sunlight exposure, resulting in a naturally light color and crisp texture.

At Tamila Agrifood, we hand-select Light Halves to meet EU Class I standards, ensuring consistency and zero rancidity — a quality benchmark for premium buyers in Germany, Italy, and Japan.

2. Amber Halves & Pieces (Medium Grade)

Amber walnuts have a deeper golden-brown hue and a slightly stronger nutty flavor compared to light kernels. While not as visually perfect, their taste and oil content make them ideal for industrial and culinary use.

•    Color: Medium brown to amber tone

•    Texture: Firm and crunchy

•    Oil Content: High, suitable for roasting or pressing

•    Applications: Cooking, bakery fillers, chocolate coatings, nut mixes

Amber-grade kernels are more affordable yet nutritionally identical to light walnuts, making them a smart choice for manufacturers balancing cost and quality.

Many buyers prefer amber kernels for local retail, confectionery production, and dairy alternatives like walnut milk or butter.

3. Broken Kernels & Quarters (Industrial Grade)

Not all walnut kernels make it through processing in perfect halves — and that’s where Broken Kernels, Quarters, and Small Pieces come in.

These are mechanically or manually separated during grading but still maintain the same nutritional and flavor profile as full halves.

•    Size: Small pieces, fragments, and quarters

•    Color Range: Light to amber mix

•    Applications: Granola bars, nut pastes, energy snacks, bakery toppings

•    Advantages: Cost-effective, easy to use in bulk food processing

Broken grades are a favorite among large-scale manufacturers, as they reduce preparation time while maintaining high taste and protein value.

Tamila Agrifood offers custom size sorting for broken kernels based on client preferences — ensuring consistency in texture and appearance across production batches.

4. Roasted & Value-Added Walnut Kernels

The roasted walnut segment is rapidly growing in both retail and foodservice industries. Roasting enhances flavor, reduces moisture, and increases shelf life.

Tamila Agrifood provides roasted walnut kernels under controlled temperature systems that prevent oxidation and preserve essential oils.

•    Roasting Temperature: 120–150°C (depending on client preference)

•    Shelf Life: Up to 12 months under vacuum-sealed packaging

•    Variants: Dry-roasted, lightly salted, or spiced

•    Applications: Snacks, premium nut mixes, ready-to-eat food lines

In addition, we offer custom packaging solutions for roasted walnuts — from vacuum pouches and PET jars to bulk cartons — ideal for private labeling and re-export.

5. Walnut Grading Standards & Color Classification

Walnut kernels are categorized primarily by color, size, and integrity. The four main color grades are:

•    Extra Light: Pale ivory, top export grade

•    Light: Slightly darker, still premium quality

•    Light Amber: Warm golden brown

•    Amber: Rich brown with a bold flavor

Each color grade corresponds to a particular market segment:

•    Extra Light → European gourmet buyers

•    Light → Supermarkets and bakeries

•    Amber → Industrial and confectionery processors

•    Mixed Grades → Snack production and oil extraction

At Tamila Agrifood, we follow USDA and UNECE walnut grading standards, ensuring each shipment is properly classified, inspected, and certified before export.

6. Choosing the Right Grade for Your Market

Different regions demand different walnut characteristics:

•    European Union: Prefers Light Halves and Extra Light for retail packaging.

•    Middle East: High demand for Roasted and Amber grades for local snack production.

•    Africa: Prefers Broken or Quarters for affordable bulk consumption.

•    Asia (China, India): Imports a mix of Light and Broken kernels for both industrial and household use.

Tamila Agrifood helps international buyers select the right grade based on target market, pricing goals, and intended product application — from snacks to cosmetics and dairy alternatives.

7. How Tamila Agrifood Ensures Premium Walnut Grading?

Our walnut grading process combines modern optical sorting technology with expert human inspection to guarantee purity, uniformity, and color accuracy.

Steps in our process include:

1.   Initial Cleaning & Shelling – Removing impurities and defective nuts.

2.   Color Sorting – Using digital cameras to separate grades precisely.

3.   Moisture Testing – Ensuring levels under 5% for long shelf life.

4.   Manual Inspection – Double-checking for shell fragments and consistency.

5.   Vacuum Packaging & Labeling – Based on client’s private brand or export label.

Every order is backed by quality control reports and photographic documentation, ensuring transparency and trust.

8. Tamila Agrifood: Your Reliable Source for All Walnut Grades

Whether you need premium light halves for retail packaging or broken amber kernels for industrial use, Tamila Agrifood provides complete walnut solutions tailored to your business model.

Why choose us?

Wide range of grades (Light, Amber, Broken, Roasted)

ISO, HACCP, and Halal certified processing

Competitive bulk pricing for global buyers

Customized packaging and labeling options

On-time logistics with full export documentation

We don’t just export walnuts — we build long-term partnerships based on trust, quality, and consistency.

Conclusion

Understanding walnut kernel varieties is the first step toward smart sourcing decisions in the global nut trade. Each grade — from light halves to broken and roasted — has its place in the market, and selecting the right one can optimize your margins and brand positioning.

At Tamila Agrifood, we help you make those decisions with confidence, supplying premium-grade, fully certified walnut kernels that meet international standards and customer expectations.

Contact us today at

Email: tamilaagrifood@gmail.com

Call / WhatsApp:  +989141858935

 to request a quotation or receive grade samples tailored to your market demand.