Botanically, almonds are not considered to be nuts.Rather, almonds are seeds of drupes, which are fleshy fruits surrounding a seed. Due to their jampacked nutrition, almonds are included in our diet just like nuts.An almond is not a true nut because it is found in drupes, and thus it is a seed. These drupes of almond trees consist of an outer exocarp and an inner endocarp. The exocarp bears a green-colored thick coat, while the endocarp is a hard shell, inside of which lies the edible almond seed. Once the maturation of the fruit takes place, it separates and falls off from the stem. A lot of nutrition and high-energy calories can be obtained from just a handful of almonds. Along with high amounts of carbohydrates, fat, and protein, it provides us with a high content of fiber that is essential for the smooth peristalsis in our gastrointestinal tract. The almond nutrition facts also include several minerals, like magnesium, iron, calcium, and potassium. Traces of micronutrients are also present in almonds, for example, copper, zinc, and manganese. Apart from all this nutrition, Vitamin E, also called Tocopherol, is present, which is responsible for preventing blood clots and helps in the coordination of our nerves and muscles. The almond, is thus, a rich source of antioxidants that revitalizes damaged cells in our body.If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about are bay leaves edible and are beans a vegetable here on Kidadl?Classification Of AlmondsThe botanical title given to almonds is Prunus dulcis and it is in the subgenus of Amygdalus.Belonging to the kingdom Plantae, in the family of Rosaceae, the rose family, which consists of herbs, shrubs, and trees. A variety of fruits like plums, peaches, apricots, and cherries belong to this family. It is classified with the peach under the Amygdalus subgenus. It falls under the Rosales order and is differentiated from the other subgenera of Amygdalus on the basis of its shell type.Are Almonds Fruits Or NutsBotanically, a nut is described as a fruit with a hard shell and a seed inside. The almond is itself a seed present within the fleshy fruit called a drupe.True nut examples are chestnuts, acorns, and hazelnuts. As the almond is present inside the drupe as a seed, it can be considered to be a part of the fruit. Due to its immense health benefits, we eat almonds just like a nut and also incorporate them in different food items. The sweet taste of almonds comes from their sugar content and thus the healthy almond milk tastes sweet. Almond butter is a popular food choice among health-conscious adults as it is a high source of protein, just like peanut butter. Technically, peanuts are legumes and thus, can be considered vegetables. On the other hand, almonds, along with walnuts and cashews are considered to be seeds of true fruits.Why almonds are not considered nuts?Technically, almonds are seeds of fruits found in the almond tree, while the nuts are fruits themselves that possess seeds within them. Although it is termed as a nut from the culinary point of view, as they can add the same flavor to the food with their oily kernel just like other nuts.The chestnuts and hazelnuts are considered to be true nuts that bear a hard outer shell and seed inside. The almonds, cashews, and walnuts are seeds themselves and we eat them raw. The crunchy almonds qualify to be healthy snacks that contain natural nutrients and the texture of nuts. These plants are native to Iran but are cultivated widely throughout the world. Almonds are grown commercially on a large scale in California. Vast research and development of science have promoted the growth of almonds in more than 450,000 acres of land.The almond, though not a true nut, is considered to possess 5 % fewer calories than in cow’s milk. Although the University of California is doing extensive research on the science and development of commercial almonds, they are slowly leading to desertification. As the almond plant farming does not involve crop rotation, the soil quality in California farming sites is gradually degrading and thus, the risk of poor agricultural practices are increasing day by day.Where do the almonds come from?The origin of almonds is in southwestern Asia and China, where these were eaten by our ancestors from 4000 BC. Although not true nuts, they are cultivated in large numbers in several other parts of the world now. Both the bitter and sweetened almond nuts are cultivated in the hilly regions of India, for example, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Apart from this, the cultivation of bulk almond nuts takes place in seven countries, like Spain, Australia, and Italy. California produces more than 80% of the total cultivated almonds in the world. These are considered to be important in our diet and are also incorporated in different kinds of foods, just like cashews and peanuts. Dieticians recommend eating at least six almonds every day to maintain a balanced diet.They are known to contain a large number of essential nutrients. They also possess a high content of Vitamins, especially Vitamin E, which is related to our immunity, just like the vegetables. Together with raisins, cashew and peaches, the almonds are incorporated in certain dishes to execute an array of culinary skills. Their sugary texture enhances the taste of the foods remarkably and brings out the flavor of the nuts. Though we like to eat handfuls of almonds as nuts, they are known to cause allergy in certain people in the same process as true nuts. Symptoms of an allergy can take place after immediate consumption or after an hour, with signs of swelling, rashes, and itchiness throughout the body. Oral allergy is also quite common. Mild symptoms can be cured with antihistamines.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are almonds nuts then why not take a look at are birds warm-blooded, or are black diamonds real.
Botanically, almonds are not considered to be nuts.
