Almond seeds are primarily used to produce various food products and are consumed whole as a nutritious snack. They are processed to create almond milk, almond oil, almond butter, almond flour, almond paste, and marzipan.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- Direct Consumption: Almonds are a popular snack, eaten raw, roasted, or flavored. They offer a good source of fiber and various nutrients. A 1-ounce (28-gram) serving provides approximately 3.5 grams of fiber.
- Almond Milk: Almonds are blended with water and strained to create a dairy-free milk alternative.
- Almond Oil: The oil extracted from almonds is used in cooking, cosmetics, and aromatherapy.
- Almond Butter: Similar to peanut butter, almond butter is made by grinding almonds into a smooth paste.
- Almond Flour: Ground almonds create a gluten-free flour alternative, used in baking.
- Almond Paste and Marzipan: These are sweet almond-based confections used in pastries and candies.
