There are several varieties, and types of almonds available in the market. The variety of almonds differs from country to country. In India, you can find some kind of but in California and France some other type of almond you will find.

The origin of almonds is from Iran and neighboring countries but cultivated in different countries around the world.

Just seeing the shelling of the almonds, we can find two types of almonds. The first type is the hard shell almonds, and another one is soft shell almonds. In these two types of almonds, you’ll find a different variety of almonds. 

Form smooth surface almond to hard surface almond, form bitter taste almond to sweet taste almonds. 

The colour of the shell also differentiates almonds. Some almonds are brown, and some are light colour almonds. 

In California, generally, you’ll find soft shell almonds. You’ll find the Spanish variety of almonds in France and Portugal, which are hard shell almonds.

There are not many varieties in India, but we’ll discuss all of them from hard shell to soft shell, how they differ from each other? What sorts are found in India? Which type of almonds is more in France and California, United States?

Types of Almond:

Types Of Almonds In India:

Mollar: 

Mollar means soft in Spanish. Mollar almonds are the soft shell nuts. Also known as Mollar de Tarragona. These nuts are sold widely around the world, especially in India.

Due to the soft shell and easily consumable nature of this nut make it more usable. It has a long-lasting flavour with sweat and a succulent taste.

Marcona:

Marcona almonds come from Spain. It is a sweet variety of almonds. These varieties are so popular in meditarrian regions, and Spain and in India also.

Due to their very pleasant and sweet taste with a buttery texture and smooth surface, these nuts are sold widely around the world. You can enjoy these nuts in raw, fried, and roasted forms.

Ferragness:

Ferragness originates from a region of France named, Cristomorto region. Fruits of these nuts are quite large, slightly pointed with brown skin. These nuts are not very smooth, also very rough. The germination, flowering, and maturation occur in September in Nimis, France, generally a late mutation of the flowers.

Ferraduel:

Ferraduel almonds are also a French variety. Originates from the region of France named Cristomorto. Flowering and maturation of this variety are too late, at the end of September in the region called Nimis, France.

You can characterize this from the shell as hard, wide, and flattened. It has a skin above which is thin and in light brown colour—imported in India from the Nimis of France region.

Types Of California Almonds:

Nonpareil:

You’ll find this variety in shelled and unshelled form. These are the soft shell almonds. The colour of these nuts is light with a high surface opening. Nonpareils are medium in size, flat, and smooth surface almonds. You can characterize this as long and flat shaped almonds.

Monterey:

Monterey is a California almond. Characterize as long and flat almonds. Available in shelled form only. The shell of these almonds is hard but with a smooth surface and low sature opening. The nuts are generally large and long narrow shaped. The body of the nuts is deeply wrinkled. 

Peerless:

Peerless is also a California almond. Long and flat characterization of these nuts. Available in Inshell only. They have a hard shell with good integrity with no sature opening. The nuts are of medium size and wide shaped. The nuts fairly have a wrinkled surface.

Caramel:

The caramel is only found in the shelled form and classified as the California almond. The nuts are long and flat in shape. The shell is soft with good integrity. It has a fair sature opening. The nuts are in medium size and narrow shape with a slightly wrinkled surface.

Butte: 

Butte is classified as California almond, as well as Mission almonds. Available only in shelled form. These nuts are characterized as short and round almond-shaped.

The shell is semi-hard with light colour. The shell has a smooth surface with a low suture opening. The nut’s size is small, short, plump shapes with wrinkled textures.

Sonora Almond:

This strange and unusual named almond is a famous California nut. This nut is regarded due to its peculiar shell. The nuts are large, long, and narrow in shape. The nuts have a rough surface and dark brown colour of skin.

Padre:

Padre is also classified as California and Mission type. They are available in shelled form only. The characteristic features of these nuts are short and round/plump.

The shell is hard with good integrity. They don’t have any sature opening on the shell. The nuts are small, short, and wide shaped. These nuts also have the wrinkled surface. 

Mission:

They are classified as mission type almond. Only available in the shelled form. The characteristic feature of these almonds is the short and round nuts shape.

The shells are hard and have good integrity with no sature opening. The nuts are small and short. They are wide in shape and dark brown. Nuts of this variety also have a deeply wrinkled surface.

Price:

These types of almonds are classified as the California almond. Available only in shelled form. We can characterize it as long and flat almonds. The shell of this price almond is soft and dark brown coloured. They have a rough surface with high surface openings. The nuts are small, short, and narrow shaped. These nuts fairly have a wrinkled surface.

Fritz:

The Fritz variety is classified as the California Almond and Mission almond. Only available in the shelled form. The shells are semi-hard with good integrity.

There is a low sature opening between the shells. They are characterized as long, short, and plump/round shaped nuts. The nuts of Fritz are small, medium plump shapes with a fairly wrinkled surface.

Ne Plus Ultra:

It is known as “Neplus.” It is a California variety. The fruit is so attractive due to its clear elongated shape. The nuts are also long and flat. The nuts usually have folds and wrinkles. The yield on shelling is 55 to 60 percent. It shows early flowering and maturation. 

Other Varieties of Almonds Around The World:

Desmayo Largueta:

Desmayo Largueta is commercialized under the name of Larguetas. The tree of these nuts is hanging growing habits. They are Spanish and are of several local types in Spanish regions, and the most well-known is Desmayo Rojo.

It is cultivated on all the Ebro valley, from Zaragoza to Tarragona and in the bordering provinces of Lerida and Teruel(Spain). Flowering and maturation are very late. The shell is hard and extended and pointed. They have a smooth surface. 

Tuono:

Tuono is a variety of Puglia, Italy. They are hard shell fruits. When the fruits are ripe, they maintain the peduncles of the fruits on the tree. There is a 30-40 percent yield on shelling. The double almond varies between 15-30 percent proportion. 

Ferralise:

It is a hybrid variety. From the crossing of Ferragnes and Ferraduel, Ferralise originates. They are small, thick, and clear. They have a smooth surface with a hard shell. The yield on shelling is approximately 30 percent.

Bonita:

Bonita is a Portuguese variety. The total yield on shelling is only 23 per cent. This variety also shows late flowering and late maturation. The nuts are medium size, thick and pale-coloured. You’ll find this very attractive because it’s stripped over the nuts.

Casa nova:

Casa nova is also a Portuguese variety. It shows the late-flowering even later than the other Portuguese type. And the yield is only 20 percent. This is a great almond, which has flattened nuts, and the surface is quite rough.

Verdal: 

Verdal is a Portuguese variety. Show early flowing and maturation. Verdal has quite a large type of nuts. The nuts are flattened with very good taste. 24 percent is the yield on shelling.

Parada:

It is a large type of nut. Parada is highly appreciated in Portugal due to its shape. Besides the large nuts it has, these nuts are wide, dark brown in colour, and the surface is slightly rough. The yielding is 19-22 percent on shelling. It shows early flowering and maturation.

Texas:

It originates from California. In Nimis, France, it shows late flowing and maturation in the middle of October. The fruits are thick.

Benefits of Almonds:

• It regulates the cholesterol level.
• Reduces & maintains the blood pressure
• Reduces inflammation
• Good source of Vitamin E
• Very good source of potassium
• In elders, protect against cognitive decline.
• Reduces the risk of cancer.