OT? Are almonds in shell raw? If so, possible pasteurization alternative.

[Diana Cda]

I've been really steamed (no pun intended) over this business of pasteurized almonds. I'm sure I'm not the only one here! <g> I just finished up a large batch I'd had. This time of year there are lots of nuts in the shell available for purchase everywhere so last night I bought some almonds and spent some time watching a movie and cracking them for almond milk. That's what I use them primarily for and thank goodness a whole jug of almond milk requires only 1 cup of almonds!!

(This was actually sort of fun; bought the Harry Potter 5 DVD so am working my way through again from HP1 while doing chores and expect to get to the new DVD tomorrow! <g> So 1/2 hour's nut cracking didn't seem like so much work!).

But I don't know if they're actually raw. They don't actually look the same as the raw almonds I used to buy but they don't look like any of the roasted/cooked almonds one sees.

Does anyone know re this? If they are raw, this may be a much more economical and accessible alternative than all the running around everyone is trying to do in the health food stores trying to get us raw almonds from Europe, etc.

Pls advise. Can't live without my almond milk ever since I bought my SoyMillk maker last year! :)

[Diana Cda]

Though still wondering if they're raw, the milk tastes okay.

[rawkchicster]

I'd like to know, too!

[trinity082482]

I think nuts that come in their shells are raw.. "I think"

[Diana Cda]

Of course, the best way to test is ... you guessed it ... sprouting! <g>

I finally had a moment to try sprouting some almonds that I'd gotten from the shell, and though it can't be considered conclusive after just one try, they DID NOT sprout even after keeping the experiment going for more 3 or 4 days!!! That should have been long enough to at least see _some_ change in the nuts. No change at all happened.

I can't see the why of pasteurizing almonds in the shell, as there would be no logical or conceivable reason to justify that (unlike out-of-the-shell almonds which they've managed to come up with an asinine excuse for doing so :P), but who knows?!

However, like I said, one trial run is not conclusive. There could have been other factors. But having said that, though not an about-face, the fact that they didn't spout also doesn't look good. I'd be interested in knowing if anyone else has a lack of success or not in sprouting almonds they've cracked themselves.

Anyway, will keep trying with these and the next batch I buy, I'll try to sprout once more. Still looking for truly raw almonds but from a Canadian supplier just because it's so much easier. Let them deal with customs, etc. ... !

Cheers. :)

[Diana Cda]

Still looking for truly raw almonds but from a Canadian supplier just because it's so much easier. Let them deal with customs, etc. ... !Hey, kept looking and thankfully elsewhere this link was provided to a company out in B.C.!:
http://www.realrawfood.com

Wow!! :) I'll post back with any comments re this.

[lanettasmouse]

i live in the u.s. but i bought from them and it was good. i didn't buy the almonds cause i've found a cheaper source, but i did get cashews, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts and some other stuff. keep in mind though that you have to place an order of at least $100. but yes they are a good company.

[kaybee]

use the search tool. unfortunately i think theres a thread where someone emailed the almond board and actually the ones with shells are pasteurized too. if you got steam pasteurized in shell nuts though, maybe the nut would still be protected from the steam inside?

[Diana Cda]

i live in the u.s. but i bought from them and it was good. i didn't buy the almonds cause i've found a cheaper source, but i did get cashews, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts and some other stuff. keep in mind though that you have to place an order of at least $100. but yes they are a good company.What??? You have to place an order of a minimum Cdn$100??? For real? I'll have to check that out. If that's the case, they're out for me. Sheesh. But I'll confirm.

[Diana Cda]

use the search tool. unfortunately i think theres a thread where someone emailed the almond board and actually the ones with shells are pasteurized too. if you got steam pasteurized in shell nuts though, maybe the nut would still be protected from the steam inside?Geez, this is ridiculous. Well, with a note from the Almond Board and my own experiment, that's good enough for me: almonds in the shell are no good!

Thanks for the tip!