Almonds are actually not nuts, but the edible seed of the almond tree.
The Guarnas variety of almonds, which comes from Spain and California (US), all but guarantees the absence of bitter almonds.
The almond is one of the most popular among nuts both for its flavour and versatility in cooking, as an ingredient in both sweet and savoury dishes.
Almonds are also commonly eaten as a snack, especially by athletes, as they are rich in healthy fats, antioxidants like flavonoids and vitamin E, vitamins, and minerals. They also contain unsaturated fatty acids which help reduce the levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol.
Almonds consumed with their peel are an even healthier snack as they help with conditions like hypertension and metabolic dysfunctions.

FUN FACTS ABOUT ALMONDS

Almonds are native to the Middle East, but for thousands of years they’ve been cultivated and consumed all over the world.
According to a legend in Greek mythology, the almond tree was born from the tragic love story between Phyllis and Acamas. Acamas was a Greek hero who was travelling to Troy, and during a stop in Thrace, he met Phyllis. It was love at first sight for the two, but Acamas had to leave for war. Phyllis waited for him for 10 years, but once the news of the fall of Troy reached her, seeing he wasn’t coming back, she died of grief. The goddess Athena, moved by her deep love, decided to turn her into a tree. When Acamas, who actually managed to survive the war, came to know of Phyllis’ transformation, he headed to the place where the tree was and embraced it, filled with love and sorrow. Phyllis, who felt the embrace of her beloved, made small white flowers bloom from her branches, and every spring since then, the almond tree blossoms as a testimony of their eternal love.