teaser: After the almond tree enchants with delicate, pink flowers in early spring, the valuable fruit is formed. Almonds can already be seen at the beginning of June. These will be a true delight for foodies in the fall.
What types of almonds are there and what ingredients do they contain?
Almonds are stone fruits that ripen in autumn and offer three flavors: sweet almonds with a sweet taste, cracked almonds in a thin, brittle shell, and bitter almonds, which contain poisonous hydrogen cyanide. Almonds are rich in vitamins, minerals and fats as well as magnesium, calcium and potassium.
What the Romans already knew
There are only a few growing areas worldwide. In Germany, the almond tree is primarily cultivated in wine-growing regions. The enchanting almond blossom invites you to wonderful celebrations.
From a historical perspective, it is clear that the almond was introduced by the Romans with their incredible love of wine enjoyment. Almonds are still enjoyed today in combination with fine wines or liqueurs. The Dürkheimer Krachmandel is a German variety.
Almonds are also used in a wide variety of culinary delicacies. The special highlights include the fine almond oil or the almond cream. The latter is often used in Spanish cuisine to prepare the country's typical flan.
Three varieties for gourmets
The cultivated almond thrives in three different flavors.
- Sweet almond: seeds with sweet taste
- Cracked almond: sweet seed in a thin, brittle shell inside the stone core, popular snack at Christmas time
- Bitter almond: Seeds taste bitter, even small quantities are poisonous.
The enzyme beta-glucosidase produces the extremely toxic hydrogen cyanide from the ingredient amygdalin in bitter almonds. Therefore, it is not advisable to consume them raw.
Valuable ingredients for all ages
Almonds contain valuable almond oil. There are occasionally small traces of sugar.
These fruits offer a significant proportion of:
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Fat
Unlike nuts, they have a lot:
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Potassium
In contrast to nuts, they are also characterized by the fact that they only contain a very small amount of histamine.
Almonds for holistic he alth prevention
Experts recommend consuming around 20g of almonds daily. This reduces the risk of developing heart disease. Furthermore, the almond fruit is highly valued for its cholesterol and blood pressure lowering effects.
Regular consumption is expressly recommended for pregnant women because of the valuable folic acid content.
Tips & Tricks
Sweet cracked almonds are often used for cooking or baking. For better results, it is advisable to remove the peel before use. This dissolves in a hot water bath and can be easily removed.
