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The almond, delicious and rich in benefits
Today we are going to talk about a product I cherish, the almond. Because “I love spreading thick” with organic whole almond butter.
It’s spring, and the almond tree is one of the first trees to blossom and announce the revival. Let’s start by quoting “The beneficial foods, 50 treasures of nature for our health“.
The almond tree is believed to originate from the Near and Middle East. During the Middle Ages, we forgot about it, but it held an important place in our meals. It was only in the 16th century that France seriously started cultivating the almond tree, in the south of the country.
Today, California is the world’s largest producer, but organic almonds mostly come from Sicily and Spain.
Like all its cousins, the nuts, it contains many nutrients: unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
For my part, I put them in cakes, in smoothies, on toasts, therefore, and in yogurts. I slip handfuls into savory mixes, in children’s snacks, and on both sweet and savory tarts.
The guest: Patricia Collino
And to explain why eating almonds is a great idea, I am delighted to welcome Patricia Collino, Director of R&D and Quality at La Mandorle.
La Mandorle is not just a powerful motif in sacred geometry, it’s also a French family business specializing in almond milk, created in 1989. As for Patricia Collino, she is both a nutritionist and a naturopath.
The questions
- What is your background in a few words? How did you become particularly interested in nutrition?
- Can you describe the many nutritional benefits of almonds?
- Can you also tell us about its origins: where is it produced? Are there French sectors developing in your area?
- What are the environmental impacts of the culture? (I have a bad image of monocultures in California, what about Europe, France?)
- What are your favorite products from La Mandorle?
- Which products are more nutritionally interesting?
- In what forms should almonds be consumed and at what times of the day?
- Can you explain how to make your own almond milk and almond butter?
- What are the properties of almond milk compared to animal milk and other plant-based milks?
- Do you have one or two recipes to share with us?
Resources for further exploration
- The La Mandorle website
- Almonds, Nuts, Seeds & Co, Terre Vivante Editions
- Cléa (from the Cléa Cuisine blog) explains how to make homemade almond milk and almond butter
- Crêpe batter recipe
