bitter almonds

Toxic marzipan ingredient

Bitter almonds are a variety of almond that contains amygdalin, which releases hydrogen cyanide when processed.

Unlike sweet almonds eaten as snacks, bitter almonds are toxic raw and must be heated to destroy the poison.

They're used in small quantities for flavoring—almond extract gets its intense taste from bitter almonds.

The marzipan had that distinctive bitter almond flavor.

Related

amaretti · orgeat · Agatha Christie · hydrogen cyanide · seeds · nougats · drupes · toxicity · detective fiction · poisonous · folk medicine · frangipane · almond extract · arsenic · scent · detective novels · baking · liqueur

Categories
Opposites
taste/edibility classification

bitter almondsCalifornia almonds

Stone fruits from Pacific state

roasted almonds · blanched almonds · Jordan almonds · salted almonds

danger/safety as food

bitter almondsedible nuts

Seeds safe to consume

cashews · walnuts · macadamia nuts · pistachios

taste/flavor profile

bitter almondscandied almonds

Sugar-glazed tree nuts

Family

biting, bitter, bitterness, almonds, bitty, embitter, bitters, bittersweet, embittered

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G