These mountain almonds are wild-harvested in the Samarkand, Tashkent and Kitab regions of Uzbekistan. Our partner Pakka has them processed entirely on site.
As almonds can contain amygdalin, a bitter substance that is toxic to humans, Pakka has the mountain almonds debittered. This is also done locally: the almonds are first soaked in water – amygdalin is water-soluble – and then blanched. The heat ensures that the remaining bitter substances evaporate and the almonds are ultimately safe to eat.
We are initially testing these almonds with only a small quantity and would appreciate your feedback on their quality and taste.