bitter almond

Bitter almonds are a type of almond with a bitter taste that contains amygdalin. They come from the tree Prunus dulcis var. amara. While similar in composition to sweet almonds, bitter almonds contain amygdalin, which is present in only trace amounts in sweet almonds. The oil extracted from bitter almonds is used to create flavoring extracts for foods and liqueurs, but it must first have prussic acid removed. Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glucoside found in the seeds of fruits like apricots, peaches, and bitter almonds. Almonds, in general, are the seeds of a tree native to Southwest Asia and are an economically important crop, with California producing the majority of the world's supply.1234