Almond

Prunus dulcis, Prunus amygdalus

Almond Sweet Almond Habitat and cultivation

Spreading tree to 7m (20ft ) with smooth, pale colored branches. In common with other trees in this family, the cherry, peach and plum, pink or white blossom appears before the first leaves from mid to late spring. The flowers are solitary and stalkless and the leaves oval, pointed at the end and finely toothed. Fruit is dull green with an outer covering that toughens when ripe, then splits to reveal the familiar nuts in their yellowish, pitted shells.

The almond has been cultivated in the Middle East for centuries and is mentioned in the Bible: Aaron's rod was an almond branch. According to Greek mythology, the almond was originally a grieving nymph, Phyllis, who had been deserted by her lover, Demophoon, and died of a broken heart. The gods took pity on her and changed her into a tree that burst into flower when Demophoon finally returned. The Greeks introduced the tree to Europe, and in the Middle Ages the nuts were an important article of commerce. In Elizabethan times quantities of almonds were pounded up with water to make a milky liquid that was used extensively in cooking. Today, cooling almond milk is still drunk as a kidney tonic and to ease heartburn. In culinary terms, the nuts are an important ingredient of Near and Middle Eastern dishes. In European cookery almonds are served with fish and made into a wide range of sweets such as tulron, delicious Spanish nougat from Alicante.

Almonds yield around half their weight in an oil that is almost scentless and has excellent softening and nourishing properties. It keeps well and makes an excellent massage oil either on its own, or used as a carrier oil for selected essential oils in aromatherapy. Almond oil is light, easily absorbed by the skin and can help to alleviate itching eczema. Taken internally, it acts as a laxative. Ground almonds are also beneficial to the skin and make an excellent facial scrub that cleanses and softens.

The Bitter Almond, Prunus amara, is also widely cultivated for its oil and is used cosmetically and for massage. For almond essence and almond flavoring bitter almonds are preferred.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Almond is native to the eastern Mediterranean, especially Jordan, Iran and the Middle East. Introduced to southern Europe and widely cultivated in all countries bordering in the Mediterranean, particularly Spain and Italy, as well as California. Almond prefers sun and well-drained soil.