February 16th: Almond Day

Today is Almond Day. Here are some things I bet you didn't know about almonds.

1. Almonds belong to the genus Prunus and are related to Peaches and Cherries.
2. The almond isn't a nut - it's a seed, or drope, like a peach kernel.
3. Almonds first grew in the Middle East. It was spread by humans in ancient times along the shores of the Mediterranean into northern Africa and southern Europe. More recently it was introduced into the United States, currently the world's biggest almond producing nation.
4. Wild almonds are poisonous. They contain a chemical called glycoside amygdalin, which gives it a bitter taste and also turns into hydrogen cyanide if the seed is injured, as it is if eaten. Eating a few dozen wild almonds would kill you. At some point, a mutation occurred and a variety without glycoside amygdalin appeared, which had a sweeter taste and wasn't toxic.
5. The adjective "amygdaloid" ("like an almond") is used to describe objects which are roughly almond-shaped, and the amygdala region of the human Brain is so called because it consists of almond shaped groups of cells.
6. In German, almonds are called Mandel or Knackmandel, in Italian, mandorla. The English word has incorporated the Arabic article, al-.
7. 100 grams of almonds contain B vitamins riboflavin, niacin, vitamins thiamine, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin E, the essential minerals calcium, Iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, Zinc and Potassium.
8. Almonds are used to make Marzipan, a sweet confection whose name means "bread of March". They are also used to make almond butter (like peanut butter only sweeter and better for people with a Peanut allergy), almond milk (good for people with lactose intolerance and vegans) and almond flower (gluten-free).
9. Almond oil is used in massage and can also be used as a wood conditioner of certain woodwind instruments, such as the oboe and Clarinet.
10. In the Bible, the almond was a symbol of watchfulness and promise due to its early flowering. Almonds are mentioned ten times in the Bible. According to tradition, the rod of Aaron bore sweet almonds on one side and bitter on the other; if the Israelites followed the Lord, it produced more sweet almonds, but if they didn't, the bitter almonds would predominate.