monica sanders
December 3rd, 2003, 04:25 PM
what is the difference? i can only find just almond oil.
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View Full Version : almond oil and sweet almond oil monica sanders December 3rd, 2003, 04:25 PM what is the difference? i can only find just almond oil. Madeleine December 3rd, 2003, 11:44 PM It's the same - there's a difference between "sweet" or "regular" almond oil which is a carrier oil and "bitter almond oil" which is a volatile EO. Quote from here (http://www.fao.org/inpho/vlibrary/x0043e/X0043E0d.htm): The Almond tree grows to a height of 10-25ft. and bears a peach like fruit. The outer pulpy portion of the fruit is thin and inedible. The fruit becomes tough and leathery and splits open when ripe. Many varieties of almonds are grown but they can broadly be divided into two types, Bitter and Sweet. Sweet almonds do not contain amygdalin and are widely used as nuts and food ingredients. Bitter almonds contain amygdalin and an enzyme which causes its hydrolysis to glucose, benzaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid. When ground, moistened bitter almond kernels are subjected to steam distillation a volatile oil is obtained. This is Oil of Bitter Almond and mainly consists of benzaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid. It should not be confused with the fixed oil, Sweet Almond Oil. The fixed oil is known as Sweet Almond Oil to distinguish it from the steam volatile Bitter Almond Oil. This does not imply however that sweet almond oil is made from sweet almonds, in fact most is extracted from bitter almonds as sweet almonds are too valuable for oil extraction. Bitter almonds are thus used for both fixed and volatile oil extraction (Ecky). The oil content of dried sweet almond kernels is 50-60%. That of bitter almonds is lower, 40-45%, and sometimes as low as 20% (Ecky). Almonds are also grouped by shell type in hard shell, soft shell and paper shell types. Axium December 4th, 2003, 03:20 AM Good question! Thanks, Mad! |