SC - Re: Almonds and Sundry Nuts and Seeds

[LrdRas at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/1/99 9:52:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, phelpsd at gate.net
writes:

<< Regarding almonds, it is my understanding that honey from their blossoms is
 poisonous does anyone recall period references to this?
  >>

The following was taken from the book you referenced. It seems to indicate
that honey bee production and almond groves have a close partnership with one
another. The section on the household inventory of the queen of France in 1372
is of particular interest to cooks. ;-)
- ----------

Almond Nut Facts

The Almond, Prunus dulcis, is a graceful, medium-sized tree of the rose
family. It is closely related to and resembles the peach, plum and apricot.
Almonds are grouped into two principal types: sweet almonds and bitter
almonds. The sweet almond is grown for its edible nuts. Bitter almonds provide
oil used as a flavoring and an ingredient in cosmetic skin preparations. 

The almond is believed to have originated in the temperate, desert parts of
western Asia. From there it spread west to the warm, dry regions of the
Mediterranean. Almonds are referenced several times in the Bible. Jacob's sons
carried almonds and pistachio nuts to Egypt when they went begging for food
from their brother Joseph (Genesis 43:11). The Hebrews looked at the almond
tree as a symbol of haste because of its sudden blossoming (Numbers 17:8). 

By 716 A.D., almonds were introduced into Northern Europe. In 812 Charlemagne
ordered almonds trees to be planted on the imperial farms. An inventory of
household goods of the queen of France in 1372 listed only 20 pounds of sugar,
but 500 pounds of almonds. 

Almonds have symbolized good luck for many centuries in southern Europe. At
Greek weddings, candied almonds are given away as tokens of long life and
happiness. At Spanish weddings sugar coated "Jordan" almonds are given away.
The term "Jordan" probably comes from the French word for garden-jardin. 

The first almond trees planted in North America were in the Spanish missions
between San Diego and Santa Barbara, California. These trees did not take
however, due to the moist conditions in the area. During the 1850's the almond
tree was introduced to north-central California and has flourished ever since.
Ninety-nine percent of the almonds grown in the United States today, are grown
along a 400 mile stretch of land between Bakersfield and Red Bluff,
California. Almonds are California's most important tree crop, based on
acreage, dollar value and total world distribution. 

Almond trees normally reach a height of twenty to thirty feet. Their wood is
harder than that of a peach tree and they generally live longer. California
almond trees usually begin to bear at three to four years of age. Flowers of
most almond varieties are "genetically self-incompatible". Satisfactory
pollination only comes from planting two different varieties near each other.
Pollen is then transferred from one tree to another by honey bees. Growers
bring bees to their orchards in February when the trees begin to bloom. The
honey bee industry has become an essential part of almond production. 

Today, the United States is by far the largest producer of almonds in the
world. Spain is second and Italy a distant third. Other almond producing
countries include, Portugal, Iran, Morocco, Turkey, Greece, Algeria and China.

The majority of information in this section has been taken from "The Book of
Edible Nuts, by Frederic Rosengarten, Jr., copyright-1984.

 

 
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