Almonds

The almond is the fruit of the almond tree, and it is a firm favorite of man’s second-best friend, the furry four-legged squirrel. 

The almond fruit is an oval shaped fruit that can easily fit in the palm of a man’s hand, with a rather rough, coarse crust, and the tree is more known for the seed of the almond fruit or its seed rather than the fruit itself which becomes visible once the crust is broken off.

The almond tree is a deciduous tree i.e. a tree that sheds its leaves annually, and at times it is more akin to a shrub than it is to a tree. The tree rarely grows above heights of 10 m and most almond trees are normally between 4 to 10 m in height, with an average height of 6 to 7 m, and a trunk that is no bigger than 30 cm in diameter covered by a canopy of leaves and branches that are not exceedingly dense.

The origin of the almond tree is a source of contention. Some scholars say that the tree is from Iran (Persia) and Central Asia (Asia Minor) while others claim that the tree is native to Palestine and Syria (the Levant) but the borders that separate these territories tend to overlap and there is little doubt that the almond originated from the region. 

The United States is the largest producer of almonds in the world accounting for 44.93% of global production. The United States is followed by Spain 11.15%, Morocco 5.10%, Iran 4.88%, Turkey 3.93%, Italy 3.47%, Australia 3.29%, Syria 3.13%, Tunisia 2.92% and Algeria 2.70%.

The tree grows best in Mediterranean climates with long dry, warm summers, and minimal rain with wet and mild winters with temperatures ranging from 15 to 30°c and in areas with sandy, loamy soil, leaning somewhat to the clayish side of things with a PH level of 6.5 i.e. soil that is slightly acidic in nature.

According to the USDA almonds are rich in vitamin E and Folate or Folic Acid (a B vitamin) and the minerals Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Calcium. Eating almonds regularly can help reduce sugar levels in the blood, lower the blood pressure, and lower cholesterol levels. It also facilitates weight loss.