Almond, the wood with the scent of Disaronno

Just like fig tree, the almond tree is not specific to our area either. It is a fruit tree that needs a lot of warmth and light, and frost can cause problems. That's why the few specimens in the country could only be found in Banat, Dobrogea and the warm areas of Oltenia and Muntenia. Climate change, with higher average annual temperatures and less rainfall, has also made our country a good place for almonds. Farmers have started to grow it based on the growing demand for almonds worldwide. Almond trees have a shelf life of 30-35 years on farms, after which they have to be replaced. Also, during harvesting, some of the branches have to be cut back to encourage the others to flower. This produces a quantity of wood which, thanks to its distinctive pattern and colours, can be a delight for enthusiasts. Learn more about almond wood, the characteristics of the tree and the difference between sweet and bitter almond in the following.

The almond tree, one of the oldest cultivated trees

Migdal (Prunus dulcis, Prunus amygdalus or Amygdalus communis) is a member of the Rosaceae family, like plum, its apricot cherry. If you want to search for information about him you can find him as almond tree(in English), almond(in Italian) or almond tree(in French). It is highly prized for the seeds of its fruit - almonds - which are used as food or for extracting oils used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries or for flavouring alcoholic drinks.

It is native to central and southwest Asia and northern Africa and has been cultivated for more than 3000 years. Almonds have also been found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Since ancient times it has been brought to the Mediterranean area and southern Europe, and in modern times it has reached from the USA to Australia. In wild form it now grows only in parts of western Asia Minor (Levant).

A harbinger of spring that must be protected from frost

The almond tree is a small tree whose trunk, often twisted, reaches up to 6-10 m and 30-40 cm in diameter. It is not very demanding, but grows well in calcareous soils. Care must be taken that the water table is not too close because the roots can rot. The bark is greyish and can become scaly on older specimens. In fact, it is the bark that distinguishes almonds from cherries and apricots, as the flowers are very similar. Almond trees have small cracks, shiny areas or dark grey spots on the bark, which are not present on other trees.

The leaves are green, glossy, bristle-free, narrow and elongated. The flowers appear on single branches or in clusters of 2 to 4 and are white or faintly pink in the sweet and deep pink in the bitter. The fruits are dry, oval and have two shells, like the nut. The outer one is fleshy, covered with bristles and green, and the inner one is woody, with holes and bumps. Inside is the seed, which is edible and from which the oils are extracted.

The word migdal comes from Hebrew and means "the one who wakes up". It refers to being the first to bloom, sometimes even before winter is over, so it is supposed to be the one that "wakes up" spring. It thrives well in warmer areas with mild winters, where frost can't harm the delicate and very early flowers.

Our best areas for growing almonds are those favourable to vines. In addition to the southern areas, where the almond tree has been acclimatised for over 150 years, it can now also be grown in Prahova, Arad, Bihor or Sălaj.

Sweet almond and bitter almond

Like the cherry, there are two varieties of almond trees: the sweet almond tree (Prunus dulcis, dulcis variety) and the bitter almond tree (Prunus dulcis, bitter variety). In terms of the tree they are very similar, the difference being in the flowers, those of the sweet almond being white, the others bright pink.

The difference also occurs in almonds, some of which are sweet, edible, others bitter, impossible to eat. In fact, the bitter ones should not even be eaten because they contain prussic acid, a dangerous cyanic compound. It is also found in tiny quantities in sweet almonds, but the amount in bitter almonds is more than 40 times higher.

Sweet almonds can be eaten as they are, used in various forms in food (flour, milk) and processed to extract oil used in the cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries. Bitter almonds are used to extract essential (volatile) oils, which contain mainly benzaldehyde, the substance responsible for their specific smell. It is used to flavour drinks (the famous Amaretto Disaronno), cakes and various products used in cosmetics. Before use, the volatile oil extracted is processed to remove prussic acid, making it safe and without risk to health.

Almond wood - characteristics and properties

Almond wood is not of industrial interest and is therefore little known. Its specific design and the colours it can develop in the interior make it very popular with carpenters. In cross-section you can see the difference between sapwood and heartwood, the sapwood being lighter in colour, slightly yellowish, and the heartwood reddish brown with pink, orange or purple streaks.

The fibre is fine, delicate, plum and cherry-like, often twisted or irregular. The annual rings are well demarcated, varying in thickness, and the pores are crowded in the early wood area. The pores are small, fine, round, numerous and sometimes diagonally arranged.

Almond wood is very hard and dense, with a density between 700 and 800 kg/m³. It has a high tendency to crack in the radial direction and great care must be taken when cutting. When the water content in the wood is high, cracking can make the wood unusable, even for small jobs. Slow drying at low temperatures is recommended and the ends of the grain should be protected with paraffin, aracite solution or diluted primer. Glues and finishes smoothly.

Can be machined mechanically or manually. During processing, the wood may give off the specific smell of bitter almonds.

Uses of almond wood

Almond wood is rare here and is only used for unique, special works. In countries such as France and Italy, where it is more readily available but not a common wood, it is used to make small pieces of furniture. Small pieces of wood can be turned or carved into pens, bowls or small decorative objects. Because of its special colour it is used in inlays.

It is a wood with a specific resonance and is sometimes chosen for making bagpipes. It is a very good firewood, being very similar to oak treefrom this point of view. It gives off a lot of heat, the char holds a lot and results in a small amount of ash. Although it is not as widely used as plum or cherry wood, it is also a popular wood for smoking meats to which it gives a bittersweet, nutty flavour.

The true value of the almond is its fruit

Sweet almonds are widely used in confectionery to make marzipan and various cakes. Almond flour replaces wheat flour in gluten-free preparations and almond milk is used by those with lactose intolerance. In Asian cuisine they are used in dishes containing chicken, fish or beef or in vegetarian dishes. Almonds are rich in protein and fat and provide small amounts of iron, calcium, phosphorus and vitamins A, B-complex and E.

Sweet almond oil is composed mainly of olein and also contains linoleic acid and glucosides. High in protein, vitamins and minerals, it is nourishing and revitalising and is used in skin and hair care creams. Volatile bitter almond oil is a widely used natural flavouring for both food and cosmetic products. Both oils are used in the pharmaceutical industry.

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