## Common ground
All options describe processed food products made from fruits or nuts, specifically involving cooking, preservation, or blending into pastes.
## Options at a glance
**1704.90 – Sugar confectionery form**
- **Defining trait:** Formulated and packaged as a sweet, candy-like product with sugar as a primary ingredient.
- **Typical examples:** Fruit jellies in candy wrappers, sweetened fruit pastes sold as snacks.
- **Best fit when:** The paste is intended for direct consumption like candy, often with added sugar and a firm texture.
**2007.10,2007.99 – Cooked with or without added sweeteners**
- **Defining trait:** Made by cooking raw material (e.g., pistachios), possibly with added sugar or sweeteners, but not necessarily in confectionery form.
- **Typical examples:** Homemade pistachio paste for spreads, cooked nut mixtures used in baking.
- **Best fit when:** The product is cooked and used as a base ingredient, not packaged as candy.
**2008 – Preserved by cooking or dehydration**
- **Defining trait:** Preserved through heat, syrup, chemicals, or osmotic dehydration; may include added sugar but focuses on preservation method.
- **Typical examples:** Dried fruit pastes in syrup, preserved nut spreads stored long-term.
- **Best fit when:** The paste is preserved for shelf life using methods beyond simple cooking.
**2106.90 – Nut paste food preparations**
- **Defining trait:** A ready-to-use food blend based on nut paste, often mixed with other ingredients like spices or oils.
- **Typical examples:** Hummus-like spreads with pistachio base, flavored nut pastes for cooking.
- **Best fit when:** The product is a formulated food item meant for culinary use, not raw or confectionery.
## Key differences
| Option | Main Focus | Sweetening | Form | Primary Use |
|-------|------------|------------|------|-------------|
| 1704.90 | Confectionery | High sugar | Candy-like | Snacking |
| 2007.10,2007.99 | Cooking process | Optional | Paste | Ingredient |
| 2008 | Preservation method | Possible | Preserved paste | Long-term storage |
| 2106.90 | Food preparation | Variable | Ready-to-use blend | Cooking/meal use |
## How to choose
- Is it sold as a candy or sweet treat? → 1704.90
- Is it primarily cooked, with or without sugar, but not for confectionery? → 2007.10,2007.99
- Is it preserved using syrup, dehydration, or chemicals? → 2008
- Is it a blended food product meant for cooking or serving as a spread? → 2106.90
## Overlaps & pitfalls
Pistachio paste may fit multiple codes: e.g., cooked (2007) and used in food prep (2106.90). The key is the **main purpose**: if it's for direct eating like candy, use 1704.90; if it's a base ingredient or prepared food, use 2106.90. If no context is given, prioritize based on the product’s **primary function**—not secondary features