The Origin and History of Almonds (2024)

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The Origin and History of Almonds? ›

The History of the Almond

Their exact ancestry in unknown, but almonds are thought to have originated in China and Central Asia. Explorers ate almonds while traveling the "Silk Road" between Asia and the Mediterranean. Before long, almond trees flourished in the Mediterranean -- especially in Spain and Italy.

Franciscan padres from Spain originally brought the almond tree to California in the 1700s, and Spanish cooks still use almonds in many traditional treats and recipes.

Mentioned in Greek mythology and the Bible symbolizing life. In Jewish tradition it symbolizes the hidden, the unknown behind its hard crust. For the Romans, almonds were an amulet of fertility, bathing newlyweds in them, a custom that resonates in today's weddings with sugared almonds.

In Christianity, the almond, with its seed concealed behind an outer hull and a hard shell, symbolizes the purity of the virgin and the hidden godliness within the human shape of Jesus. This is why Christian icons often feature the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ within an almond-like mandorla, or frame.

In botany terms, nuts are strictly a particular kind of dry fruit that has a single seed, a hard shell, and a protective husk. Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans and walnuts fit the true definition of a nut. Peanuts and almonds do not meet the botanical definition of a true nut.

Almonds are the edible seeds of Prunus dulcis, more commonly called the almond tree. They are native to the Middle East, but the United States is now the world's largest producer. The almonds you can buy in stores usually have the shell removed, revealing the edible nut inside. They are sold either raw or roasted.

... the USA is the leading producer of almonds, representing nearly 66% of the worldwide production, followed by Spain ( Figure 1) [2].

Almond is native to Iran and its surrounding regions, including the Levant area. It was spread by humans in ancient times along the shores of the Mediterranean into northern Africa and southern Europe, and more recently transported to other parts of the world, notably California, United States.

Mamra badam grows in Iran and Afghanistan, and are nutritionally far more superior than the rest. It can be characterised by its concave shape. They are the most expensive variety of almonds considering it is not mass produced unlike California almonds.

What is the spiritual meaning of almonds? ›

As the first flower of the year the blossom is the Awakener, hence it depicts watchfulness; it also represents sweetness, charm, delicacy. For the Chinese, it is feminine beauty, fortitude in sorrow, watchfulness. In the Christian tradition, the almond signifies divine favour and approval, and the purity of the Virgin.

Mamra almonds are considered to be one of the healthiest types of almonds in the world. These almonds are grown in Iran and have been a part of the country's traditional cuisine for centuries. Mamra almonds are known for their unique taste, texture, and nutritional benefits.

California produces 80% of the world's almonds and 100% of the United States commercial supply. Although almonds are not native to California, a hot, dry Mediterranean climate and developed water infrastructure create favorable conditions for commercial cultivation of the crop.

Only two kinds of nuts are mentioned in the Bible—almonds and pistachio nuts. In Genesis 43:11, we are told that these products were among the best products of the land. Israel, attempted to use these products as a “gift” and as leverage to save Benjamin, “the child of his heart.”

The Greeks made the almond tree a sign of fertility. As such, it was closely linked to the cult of the hermaphrodite deity Adgistis, offspring of the sacred union of Zeus and Gaia and whose androgynous nature, the source of an uncontrollable and chaotic power, hastened her downfall.

The Hebrew name for the almond (sha-KED) and for the tree (Eitz haSha-KED or shkaydiYAH) coincidentally has the same root letters as a verb meaning “to be eager, alert, awake, diligent, ready to act.” The Bible makes a pun on that coincidence.

The wild form of domesticated almond grows in parts of the Levant. Selection of the sweet type from the many bitter types in the wild marked the beginning of almond domestication. It is unclear as to which wild ancestor of the almond created the domesticated species.

Almonds are native to the Mediterranean climate region of the Middle East, Pakistan, Syria and Turkey ^{( 1 )}, and other areas in Asia Minor. They were spread by Egyptians, Greeks and Romans in ancient times throughout the Mediterranean and into northern Africa and southern Europe.

Around 780,000 years ago, human ancestors living along a lakeshore in what is now northern Israel ate a varied diet. It included fat- and protein-rich almonds, pistachios, and other hard-shelled nuts, according to a new report.

The almond originated in southwestern Asia, spreading to northern Africa, southern Europe, America, and other parts of the world. It differs greatly from the other nut crops by being closely related to the peach, plum, apricot and other stone fruits.