Who doesn’t like almonds? Of course, there are such people, but most of them still like these nuts. It is difficult to confuse the almond flavor with any other, because they smell and feel in the mouth in a special way. That is why almonds are now so popular in almost the whole world, and therefore very expensive, because demand sometimes exceeds supply.
It contains a large amount of vitamin E, which is a very valuable antioxidant. Strictly speaking, almonds are not nuts, as are peanuts. From the point of view of botany, his closest relatives are plums and peaches. Almonds are especially useful for people with an increased risk of heart disease. Moreover, its regular consumption in food approximately halves the risk of heart attack, according to modern research. Bitter almonds (this is the name of the variety) are unsuitable for food. However, it is widely used in the manufacture of expensive soaps. This plant first appeared in northwest Asia. In Switzerland, there is a tradition of putting one almond nut in a Christmas cake. It is believed that the one whom he comes across will certainly be rich next year. Every year on February 16, the United States celebrates National Almond Day.
This plant belongs to the genus plum. About 80% of the world’s total almond crop is harvested in the United States. Most of it is grown in California. It was experimentally able to prove that almond flavor helps to awaken appetite. The raw bitter almonds mentioned above are poisonous. Fifty nuts can easily become a lethal dose. Despite this, it is also used in cooking, mixing with sweet almonds in a ratio of about 1 to 100. This helps to tone down the nutty flavor. Almonds normalize the liver and spleen, remove bile from the body and purify the blood. It is also an easy natural pain reliever. About half the mass of almonds is in fats. Marzipan, a popular treat, is actually almond flour.
Almonds are widely used in cosmetology and aromatherapy. This nut is even mentioned in the Bible. In Portugal and Spain, Almond Blossom Day is celebrated at the beginning of the year. In ancient Egypt, only the pharaohs and representatives of the highest nobility were able to enjoy almond desserts. In total, there are more than thirty varieties of almonds in the world, but only 10 of them are grown on an industrial scale. Moreover, with a wide margin, the first place is occupied by ordinary sweet almonds. About 40% of all sweet almonds go to the production of chocolate. In ancient Rome, almonds were an integral part of wedding celebrations. It was believed that he would bring luck to the newlyweds. Almonds can be stored in the refrigerator for one and a half to two years. Almonds are known to people of ancient times. It is known for certain that it was eaten many thousands of years ago.
