Sprouted Pumpkin Seed Kernels (also called "Pepitas") are the flat, dark green seeds found inside pumpkins. The word "pepita" is Spanish for "squash's little seed" and is frequently used to refer to these seeds whether or not the husk has been removed.

Sprouted Pumpkin Seed Kernels start with standard pumpkin seeds. Their off-white husks (frequently misidentified as their "shell") are removed leaving just the kernel of the seed. The pumpkin seed kernels are then soaked with water to start the germinating (or sprouting) process. Before the sprouting process progresses far enough for the kernels to put out shoots they are dried, so they look almost identical to other pumpkin seed kernels except they have more pronounced point on one end.

Pepitas are often thought of as a nutritious snack, as they are a good source of protein and contain various minerals. The sprouting process gives the seeds a delightfully crunchy texture without roasting them (the high heat of the roasting process breaks down many desirable natural compounds locked within the kernels).

Pumpkins are part of the gourd (or Curcurbitaceae) family and, as such, are related to other edible gourds including all sorts of squash but also cantaloupe, watermelon and even cucumbers.

Pumpkins and many of their gourd relatives are native to North and South America. They have been a staple food source since pre-agricultural times throughout both contents, at least as far back as the Aztec civilization in South America 3,500 years ago. After the European conquest of the Americas pumpkin cultivation spread throughout Europe through the Mediterranean and the Indian subcontinent into Asia.