Since its creation in the 19th century, peanut butter has always lagged behind honey in popularity, but it's now set to surpass its sweet rival.
Waitrose, which sells over three million jars of peanut butter annually, has seen a 10.5 per cent increase in sales over the past year. The retailer predicts that by the end of the year, peanut butter will outsell honey, which has experienced a 7 per cent sales rise.
Peanut butter's growing appeal is driven by health claims on social media and a trend towards premium spreads with fewer additives. Despite having double the calories of honey, peanut butter is considered healthier due to its lower sugar content.
Here’s a quick comparison of honey and peanut butter (per 100 grams), based on 2020 USDA and NIH data-
Vitamins and Minerals: Peanut butter boasts higher amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6, folate, Vitamin E, and iron compared to honey.
Nutrients: Peanut butter is a great source of calcium, dietary fibre, potassium, and protein, while honey is high in carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates: Honey has 82.4g of carbs per 100 grams, all from sugar. In contrast, peanut butter has 21.6g of carbs, composed of 39 per cent sugar, 37 per cent dietary fibre, and 23 per cent starch.
