Almonds: From Asian Minor to America

Almonds: From Asian Minor to America
The almond (Prunus amygdalus) is botanically related to the cherry, peach, plum and apricot.

It is probably originated in Asia Minor and has been consumed since prehistoric times.

Almonds were particularly important during the Middle Ages; at that time, marzipan, a sweet almond-paste confection, was introduced by Arabs into western Europe.

Recipes using almonds appear in medieval English cookery manuscripts.

Almonds were first planted in coastal California by Franciscan missionaries in the eighteenth century, but the growing conditions were not suitable.

In the 185os, almond trees were successfully cultivated in California’s Central Valley.

Almonds the most important and the most versatile of all tree nuts and have the larger share of the world’s tree nut trade.

In addition to being a popular and nutritious snack, almonds are used for making flavorings, macaroons, marzipan, salads, baked goods, and confections, such as coconut almond and chocolate almond candy bars.

All commercial American almonds are grown in California, which also supplies more tan 70 percent of all the almonds consumed in the world.
Almonds: From Asian Minor to America