Have you ever seen fresh almonds?
Last week I saw something new in the produce section at one of our local grocery stores.
Fresh green almonds! These are not raw almonds, which I have used in recipes either in whole or pureed nut butter form.
Naturally, I was very curious to try these fresh almonds. But, hadn’t a clue how they tasted or how to even eat them.
Another woman was picking some out (they were bulk form), so I asked her about them. She said she hadn’t ever tried them, but thought her kids would like them.
I thought the same! So, I picked up a couple of handfuls. I didn’t want to buy too many, as I wasn’t sure how they’d taste and whether the kids would like them – or me for that matter.
image credit: specialtyproduce.com
And, how did those fresh almonds taste?
Have a watch!
Then, tell me, have you ever seen or tried fresh almonds? If so, how do you enjoy them?
Khatereh says
I grow up eating them you can only find them in early spring.
I love eating them in whole or add a tiny amount of salt. I know some people cook them and make stew.
Dreena says
Thanks for sharing your insights, Khatereh!
ingrid says
Growing up in Suriname (South America), I remember eating the ripened almond fruit while we didn’t bother opening the pit to get the almond nut out. We had three almond trees the yard! We did the same with the cashew: we ate the cashew fruit but left the nut in the shell at the bottom of the fruit. Great idea to use the almond fruit for salads.
Angela says
Hey Dreena isn’t it fun to find and try new things? I remember when I bit into a persimmon for the first time – it was the astringent variety : (
Here in South Australia (we have a climate very similar to Cyprus and we grow almonds – they grow wild too – I have seen lots of almonds with the furry green “coat” but usually they split when the almond is ripe and ready to eat. I have tried the immature nut and it didn’t do too much for me. Hope your family enjoyed them : )
Jocelyn says
Hi Dreena. I’m originally from Lebanon and we used to eat these all the time. We dip them in a little salt and eat them. We love them. I can find them here in the U.S as alll in middle eastern stores for a short period of time.
Susan says
I have never seen these!
Debbie says
Thanks for sharing this with us. I’ve never seen unripe almonds.
Ollie is absolutely adorable. What a doll!
yannis says
In Greece, Asia Minor coast, Lebanon as well as in Iran people consume pickled green almonds. They come with the same name which is “tsagalo/e” and means small in Farsi language. In Iran, people use the word “tsagale” only when referring to the small unripened almonds. So, people all over the Eastern Mediterranean basin adopted the word and use it even nowadays. In the Greek island where i live many people collect those green almonds fallen from the trees because of the winds and pickle them in half seawater half white vinegar; essential for a rural household economy
Dreena says
Thanks for sharing that information, Yannis. I’ve had a couple of people mention pickling them, and that makes sense to me based on the flavor and texture. Having wisdom from others like yourself is wonderful!
JoAnn says
I live in Northern California where we grow almonds and have even lived in an almond orchard. I have never seen unripe almonds for sale like that and have never heard of them being eaten. Thankk you for trying them for us! I can’t imagine them tasting very good.
Mrs. Plant says
Such a cool video, Dreamy! You were SOOOO cute. I will pass on fresh almonds if I see them in the store!
Dreena says
Lol yes, you can take a pass. Thx luv. x
J says
I vaguely remember picking almonds off trees when visiting cousins as a teenager. We’d bring them home, let them dry in the sun for a few days, then used a hammer to get the skin off. We then ate some (regular) raw almonds, roasted some for later.
Brandie says
I came across them at the Super Store a few weeks ago and thought how interesting. To me the fresh almonds have the fuzzy skin of a peach. The seed itself is very soft.
I wasn’t sure how to each them. Do you eat them raw? Do you cook them? Milk them? Use as a garnish? Do I left them there.
Rebecca Cody says
I grew up in an almond growing area of California in the 1950s and nobody ever ate them at that stage. Interesting. Perhaps it’s the Asian influence that is introducing these immature almonds to our markets.
Marion says
So my friend used to have walnut tree and someone asked her for some before they were really ripe. They have a soft shell initially too. This person then pickled them in a balsamic vinegar and wow, they were fantastic. It made me think you could do that with these almonds too and it looks like that is true.
http://www.tasteofbeirut.com/pickled-green-almonds/
Dreena says
oh, interesting! I can see how that would work well, kind of like pickled green beans. Going to look at that, thanks Marion.