Almond

Amande

What it is

The almond tree flowers before it leafs — a white promise in bare February orchards that van Gogh painted for his newborn nephew. Sugared almonds have marked weddings since Roman times: bitterness coated in sweetness, like marriage, says the joke.

In the kitchen

Toast them always — raw almonds are only a rumour of themselves. Ground with sugar, they become frangipane, the soul of French tarts.

Goes with

Peach Raspberry Dark chocolate Honey Cherry Saffron

Same species

Bergeron apricot Almond flour Almond oil Amardine Amarena cherry in syrup Apricot

Also used with

Acacia honey Amontillado Candied angelica Argan oil Ammonium bicarbonate Egg white powder (albumin)

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