Almond Tree Facts

As the name implies, the main source of almonds is the almond tree. These trees belong to the Rosacea family, which also includes roses, cherries, plums, peaches and apricots. In fact, apricots and almonds are so similar that the nut of the apricot is often used as a cheap substitute for almonds.

Almond trees generally range from 10 to 15 feet tall. The flowers range from white to pink, have five petals and often resemble small roses. The leaves are generally three to five inches and linear in shape; however, they are sometimes slightly ovate. A unique feature of the almond tree is that these rose-like flowers actually form before the leaves, which is the opposite of other trees. The almonds, of which there are two types, are found inside of the flowers.

The almond tree produces both sweet and bitter varieties of almonds. Sweet almonds are tasty, but bitter almonds should not be eaten, at least not in large amounts because they contain a toxic substance known as amygladin. Trees with entirely pink flowers produce sweet almonds, while flowers that are white on the tips of the petals with red/pink coloring at the base produce bitter almonds.

The peel is the most nutritious part of the almond because it contains healthy oil, protein and phytochemicals such as flavonoids, vanilla acid and catechin. In order for these nutrients to be absorbed into the body, the almond must be chewed slowly. Almonds are known to have a variety of health benefits. For instance, almonds contain high levels of antioxidant flavonoids, which help to reduce the build up of plaque in the arteries, promoting a healthy heart and overall health benefits

Almond trees originated in China and central Asia centuries ago, and they were first brought to the United States in the mid-1700s by Franciscan Padres, who brought them to California. Initial attempts to plant the trees failed, but by 1870, scientific technology such as crossbreeding helped the trees to flourish. During the early 1900s, the central valley of California became the prime locale for almond tree growth and remains so today.

The only place in the United States where almond trees are grown for commercial purposes is in California. The almond nut is a major crop in the United States, and there are more than 450,000 acres reserved for their production and over 6,000 individual growers who harvest the crop. Harvesters monitor the crop year-round, as the trees require hot summers, cool winters, rain, irrigation and no temperatures below 0 degrees F.

In July, the shell of the almond hull, which is the dry outer covering, begins to split open and the fruit starts to appear. Between mid-August and late October, the shell is exposed and the nut begins to dry. During this season, the hull completely opens and the nuts are ready to be harvested. Right before the harvest, the ground under the trees is cleared and mechanical tree shakers knock the nuts off of the trees. After the nuts are dried, they are swept away and taken off for further production.