Crunchy, mild and incredibly versatile, almonds show up in snacks, baking, milk, butter and even flour. National Almond Day, on February 16, celebrates this popular nut. Mid-February is also when California's almond orchards begin to bloom with pink and white blossoms, one of the largest pollination events on Earth. It is a good day to toast some almonds, bake with them, or learn how they are grown.
History of National Almond Day
Almonds are one of the earliest domesticated tree nuts. Wild almonds are bitter and can be toxic, but people in the Middle East and Central Asia selected sweet almond trees thousands of years ago. Almonds were found in the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun and are mentioned in the Bible.
Almonds spread along trade routes to the Mediterranean, where they became important in Spanish, Italian and Middle Eastern cooking, from marzipan to nougat. Spanish missionaries brought almond trees to California in the 1700s.
California's Central Valley turned out to have an ideal climate, and by the late 20th century California grew most of the world's almonds. Each spring, beekeepers truck in vast numbers of honeybee hives to pollinate the orchards. Who created National Almond Day is not documented.
Why National Almond Day Matters
Almonds are a nutritious snack, providing protein, fiber, healthy fats and vitamin E.
They are also an important crop. Almond farming supports many jobs, and the industry's dependence on honeybees highlights how important pollinators are.
How to Celebrate National Almond Day
- Toast almonds: roast them in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes to deepen their flavor.
- Make almond butter: blend toasted almonds until creamy.
- Bake with them: try almond biscotti, financiers or an almond cake.
- Make almond milk: blend soaked almonds with water and strain.
- Try marzipan: shape almond paste into small fruits or animals.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, offer a bowl of roasted almonds and dried fruit as a healthy snack, but check for nut allergies and keep nut-free options available. In classrooms, students can learn how almonds grow and why bees are essential to the harvest, linking food to ecology; avoid handling nuts if any student has an allergy and use pictures instead. At home, families can make homemade almond butter or granola, or try shaping marzipan into fruits and animals. Almond flour is a useful gluten-free baking ingredient worth experimenting with.
Fun Facts About National Almond Day
- Almonds were found in Tutankhamun's tomb.
- California grows most of the world's almonds.
- Almond orchards depend on honeybees for pollination.
National Almond Day FAQs
When is National Almond Day?
National Almond Day is February 16.
Are almonds really nuts?
Botanically, almonds are the seeds of a fruit related to peaches and cherries.
Where are most almonds grown?
Most of the world's almonds are grown in California's Central Valley.
Are almonds healthy?
They provide protein, fiber, healthy fats and vitamin E, but are calorie-dense, so portions matter.