SC - alomonds vs, walnuts

[LrdRas at aol.com]

<<w hy did they use so many almonds to flavor foods in medivel England?  They
had
 > to be imported from the East.  Surely using English walnuts would have been
 > cheaper.
 > comments?
 > Phillipa >>

The almonds were not really used to 'flavor' per se. They were used  in the
form of almond milk a great deal of the time as a substitute for dairy, meat
broths, etc. on meatless days.

Almonds spread through out the warmer parts of Europe relatively early on in
hstory. They will grow any where poeaches will grow. They do blossom 1 month
earlier than peaches do so a late frost would be devastating to the almond
crops in more nothern locations.

Ras
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