Sweet Almond

The tree grows freely in Syria and Palestine: it is mentioned in Scripture as one of the best fruit trees of the land of Canaan, and there are many other biblical references to it. The Hebrew name, "shakad", is very expressive: it signifies 'hasty awakening,' or 'to watch for,' hence 'to make haste,' a fitting name for a tree, whose beautiful flowers appearing in Palestine in January, herald the wakening up of Creation. The rod of Aaron was an Almond twig, and the fruit of the Almond was one of the subjects selected for the decoration of the golden candlestick employed in the tabernacle. The Jews still carry rods of Almond blossom to the synagogues on great festivals. As Almonds were reckoned among 'the best fruits of the land' in the time of Jacob we may infer they were not then cultivated in Egypt. Pliny, however, mentions the Almond among Egyptian fruit-trees, and it is not improbable that it was introduced between the days of Jacob and the period of the Exodus. Almonds, as well as the oil pressed from them, were well known in Greece and Italy long before the Christian era.

 

Sweet almond ( Amygdalus communis )

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There are numerous varieties of the Sweet Almond in commerce, the chief being: the Jordan Almonds, the finest and best of the Sweet variety. These, notwithstanding their Oriental name, we receive from Malaga, imported without their shells. They are distinguished from all other Almonds by their large size, narrow, elongated shape and thin skin, Valentia Almonds, which are broader and shorter than the Jordan variety, with a thicker dusty brown, scurfy skin, usually imported in their shell, and sometimes called in consequence, 'Shell Almonds', and Sicilian and Barbary Almonds, which closely resemble the Valentia Almonds but are rather smaller and of an inferior quality. They occasionally contain an admixture of Bitter Almonds. Sweet Almonds possess demulcent and nutrient properties, but as the outer brown skin sometimes causes irritation of the alimentary canal, they are blanched by removal of this skin when used for food. Though pleasant to the taste, their nutritive value is diminished unless well masticated, as they are difficult of digestion, and may in some cases induce nettle rash and feverishness. They have a special dietetic value, for besides containing about 20 per cent of proteins, they contain practically no starch, and are therefore often made into flour for cakes and biscuits for patients suffering from diabetes. Almond Milk - a cooling, pleasant drink, which is prescribed as a diluents in acute diseases, and as a substitute for animal milk: an ounce of Almonds is sufficient for a quart of water, to which gum Arabic is in most cases a useful addition. The pure oil mixed with a thick mucilage of gum Arabic, forms a more permanent emulsion; one part of gum with an equal quantity of water being enough for four parts of oil. Almond emulsions possess in a certain degree the emollient qualities of the oil, and have this advantage over the pure oil, that they may be given in acute or inflammatory disorders without danger of the ill effects which the oil might sometimes produce by turning rancid. Almond oil being most valuable as a lubricant for the delicate works of watches, and is much employed as an ingredient in toilet soap, for its softening action on the skin. It forms a good remedy for chapped hands.