It is a stone fruit related to the cherry, plum, and peach tree. While the almonds grow, they look like the peach until they reach maturity. On maturing, the hull splits, then the hull separates from the shell exposing the in shell nut.
Its origin is located in Central Asia. The Romans consumed them habitually, spreading them across Europe, from where they passed to America. During the Middle Ages they were used as a basic ingredient in the elaboration desserts.
The nutritional virtues of almonds are well known: they contain a lot of vitamin E antioxidant and anti aging, as well as more than 14 grams of fibre per 100 grams of product, to stimulate intestinal movements. In addition, they offer good vegetal proteins provided with arginine, an essential amino acid especially recommended for the children.
The almond has a best amount of folic acid, necessary to
Child bearing women and minerals like iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and calcium. Another one of its virtues is that it does not contain cholesterol and more than 50% of fats that are a gift for the arteries and the heart.
Two third parts of the fat correspond to oleic acid (as in olive oil), that helps to regulate the cholesterol levels in blood, and an essential fatty acid called linoleic (Omega-6), fundamental for certain basic functions of the organism.
The almonds are a food suitable for children of a growing age and people with high levels of cholesterol. They are also suitable for diabetics - although in small
amounts – and for people who suffer from osteoporosis.
On the negative side of the balance it is necessary to remember that these dry fruits are very caloric and are fattening, so take care on their consumption.
The Almond tree:
It is a deciduous tree that can reach a height of 10 ms. Of smooth stem, green and brown when it is young, it happens to be cracked, scaly and greyish when it is adult. Leaves simple, in the form of lances, long, narrow and pointed, of 7.5 to 12.5 cm in length and intense green in colour, with saw toothed or pointed edges.
Either a solitary flower or in groups from 2 to 4,
has five sepals, five petals with variable colours between white and pink, depending on the species, of about 3 to 5 cm. of diameter. The fruits are about 3 to 6 cm. in length of drupe with exocarp and reticulated mesocarp and hard endocarp, oblong, ellipsoidal, with dry meat, green in colour that opens naturally on drying when mature. It takes 9 months to mature.
Fruit tree of warm zones, tolerates the cold very little. Most of the almonds trees are cultivated on dry land, on loose and sandy grounds. The seed has two surrounding covers, the head and the tegmen. It is usually multiplied by grafting, using the bitter almond tree, which is more resistant to drought and to limestone soil.
