Almond Origin and History The almond is native to regions
of Syria, Israel, and Turkey, though it was spread to parts of Europe
and even Africa in the past.
Historians generally agree that almonds and
dates, both
mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, were among one of the
earliest
cultivated foods. And, ancient Romans also referred to almonds as "Greek
nuts," since they were first cultivated in Greece.
Some of the earliest
varieties of
almonds were found in China carried by traders down the ancient Silk
Road to
Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East.
California Almonds
The Franciscan Padres brought the almond
tree to California
from Spain in the mid-1700. It wasn't until the following century that
trees
were successfully planted inland. By the 1870's, research and
crossbreeding had
developed several of today's prominent almond varieties.
By the turn of the 20th century, the almond
industry was
firmly established in the Sacramento and San Joaquin areas of
California's
great Central Valley.
Almonds as Historic Symbols
Throughout history, almonds have maintained religious, ethnic and social
significance. The Romans showered newlyweds with almonds as a fertility
charm,
so remember this if you want a lot of grandchildren.
According to superstition: If you eat almonds before taking a drink, you
will
reduce your chances of getting drunk and avoid having a hangover.
In Eastern
Mediterranean regions the wild form of almond can be found; this however
is very deadly, as a form of cyanide can be made from crushing or
chewing the seed.
|
