Ingredient of the Week- Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet Almond Oil-Prunus amygdalus dulcis

There are two types of almond oil- sweet and bitter. Although typically thought of as a nut, almonds are actually considered drupes (like prunes, cherries, and peaches), but instead of a sweet flesh outside, the almond has a hard, leathery hull which contains the edible kernel we call the “nut”.

Wild almonds still exist today in the Mediterranean and are toxic. Crushing, chewing, or otherwise injuring the seed produces hydrogen cyanide. It is believed that before cultivation took place, these wild almonds were eaten, but probably roasted to remove their toxicity. These wild almonds mutated into a non-toxic form that became on of the earliest domesticated fruit trees. The earliest domesticated almonds appear 3000-2000 BCE and almonds were even found in King Tut’s tomb.

The Food and Agriculture Organization figures there are 1.5 million tons of almonds produces each year. With the U.S. leading as the world’s largest almond producer, countries such as Spain, Turkey, and Greece also produce almonds.

Because of Salmonella traced to almonds in 2001 and 2004, as of September 2007 Raw Almonds will no longer be available in the U.S. (I’m getting me a load of them at Trader Joes before I can’t get any more!). After this time, “raw” almonds will be steam pasteurized or chemically treated to prevent Salmonella.

The current bee blight (colony collapse disorder) will most likely effect the nations’ almond production. The California pollination of their almond crops is the largest managed pollination in the world with nearly 1 million hives taking part. I believe that we as consumers will see an increase in the cost of almonds and almond oil due to the drastic reduction in the nation’s bee inventory. This blight will make the pollination much more costly, if not impossible depending on the severity of the blight as it spreads.

The sweet almond plant produces white flowers while the pink flowered plant produces bitter almonds.. Bitter almonds may yield 6-8% hydrogen cyanide and in large doses can be deadly. It is the sweet almond oil that is popular today to be used in massage oils, soaps and lotions, as well as other cosmetics. This oil is obtained from the dried kernel of the plant typically through a process of steam distillation. Sweet Almond oil is known for it emollient properties.

I use Sweet Almond Oil in my Lotion Bars because of its emollient properties. I also use it in Bath Fizzys because it does not feel “heavy” on the skin and soaks into the skin without feeling greasy.