Where to Buy Natural Peanut Butter in Cardiff

Peanut butter is one of those things that sounds simple but varies enormously depending on what is actually in the jar. Most of what fills supermarket shelves is a processed product with added sugar, palm oil, and salt mixed into the peanuts. Natural peanut butter is a different thing entirely.

Here is what separates them and what we stock at Beanfreaks.

What is natural peanut butter?

Natural peanut butter contains one ingredient: peanuts. Sometimes a small amount of salt. Nothing else.

Regular supermarket peanut butter typically contains peanuts plus added sugar, partially hydrogenated or fully hydrogenated vegetable oil (often palm), salt, and sometimes emulsifiers. The oils and emulsifiers are added to prevent separation and give the product a smooth, uniform texture that stays stable on the shelf.

Natural peanut butter separates. The peanut oil rises to the top because there is nothing holding it in suspension. This is not a quality defect: it is what peanut butter does without additives. Stir it before each use and it is fine.

Why it matters

Palm oil: Conventional peanut butter brands rely heavily on palm oil to stabilise the texture. Palm oil production is one of the leading drivers of deforestation in Southeast Asia and is strongly linked to habitat loss for orangutans, tigers, and other species. Avoiding it in everyday products like peanut butter is one of the easier swaps to make.

Sugar: Added sugar in peanut butter is unnecessary. Peanuts have a naturally rich, slightly sweet flavour on their own. A tablespoon of regular peanut butter can contain as much as 3g of added sugar.

Hydrogenated fats: Partially hydrogenated oils contain trans fats, which are associated with cardiovascular risk. Fully hydrogenated oils are better than partially hydrogenated but are still an additive that natural peanut butter simply does not need.

What we stock

Meridian is the benchmark for natural peanut butter in the UK. Made from 100% peanuts with no added palm oil, sugar, or additives in the plain versions. They produce both smooth and crunchy, and a range that includes variations with a small amount of sea salt if you prefer it. The texture is dense and satisfying, and it has a proper roasted peanut flavour rather than the cloying sweetness of the supermarket versions.

Whole Earth is another long-standing UK brand making natural peanut butter without palm oil. Their range is slightly broader, with options including organic and a variety of nut butters alongside the peanut versions. Good quality and widely trusted.

Both brands are available at Beanfreaks across Cardiff.

How to use natural peanut butter

The main adjustment is stirring. Natural peanut butter separates on standing, so give it a good stir when you open a new jar and again each time you use it. Keeping the jar upside down when not in use helps minimise separation.

Beyond toast, natural peanut butter works well in:

• Porridge, stirred in for extra protein and fat
• Smoothies, blended with banana, oat milk, and a little cacao
• Satay sauce, thinned with soy sauce, lime juice, garlic, and a little warm water
• Baking, in cookies or energy balls

Find it in store

We stock Meridian and Whole Earth at all three Beanfreaks stores in Cardiff:

• Roath: 95 Albany Road, CF24 3LP
• Canton: 124 Cowbridge Road East, CF11 9DX
• Royal Arcade: 8 Royal Arcade, Morgan Quarter, CF10 1AE

Get in touch to check stock at your nearest store.