10 Best Almonds in India 2023 - Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist
Almonds are seeds (contrary to the popular belief that it's a nut) of Prunus dulcis, a tree native to the Middle East. They are usually sold raw, with their shell removed. But you can buy roasted and flavored almonds too. There are several varieties of almonds in the world, and each has its own unique characteristics.
Explore our top 3 products that are selected based on our rating system from the buying guide featuring the best almonds in India from popular brands like Urban Platter, Happilo, and more. The rest 7 products are based on the buying guide curated by the mybest team from EC sites like Amazon, Flipkart, Urban Platter, and more. Also, this article is reviewed by nutritionist Ruchi Wadhwa, so keep reading to get a detailed understanding of almonds.
Ruchi Wadhwa is a certified Nutritionist with a keen interest in Ayurvedic science. She has a wholesome, holistic, and sustainable approach to nutrition.
mybest editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in India in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
- Nutritionist Ruchi Wadhwa's Take On Choosing Almonds
- How to Choose Almonds in India - Buying Guide
- Consider the Different Types of Almonds Available1
- Choose - Blanched Almonds Are Good for Digestion and Unblanched Improve Heart Health2
- Pick Flavored Almonds If You Prefer Roasted With Less/No Oil3
- Get Green Almonds as They Are Inexpensive & Offer Same Health Benefits4
- Make Almond Milk at Home
- Answers to FAQs by Nutritionist Ruchi Wadhwa
- What Is the Best Way to Eat Almonds?
- Do Almonds Help Sharpen Memory?
- More Products to Make Lip-Smacking Drinks and Dishes
- Summary
- How Do We Review and Rate Products? Read Below
Nutritionist Ruchi Wadhwa's Take On Choosing Almonds
Ruchi Wadhwa is a certified Nutritionist with a keen interest in Ayurvedic sciences. She has a wholesome, holistic, and sustainable approach to nutrition. Check out the Food and drinks section as she has reviewed some more articles on the mybest website.
How to Choose Almonds in India - Buying Guide
This buying guide is thoroughly researched by the mybest team with the cooperation of nutritionist Ruchi Wadhwa. We will discuss the characteristics of different almond varieties, the benefits of eating peeled almonds, and many more. By the time you finish, you will have a clear idea about the right variety and form to choose, depending on your needs.
Consider the Different Types of Almonds Available
The differences between different almond varieties in India are subtle but significant. There are four types of almonds popular in our country: California, Mamra, Gurbandi, and Kashmir.
If You Prefer Sweet Almonds, Go for California and Mamra
Grown in California, United States of America, California almonds comprise 80% of the almonds produced in the world. They are sweet and crunchy. You can snack on them, use them as garnishing or make almond milk. Mamra almonds have a concave shape, making it easy for you to confirm the authenticity of products.
It has the highest natural sugar content of all almonds types, which makes it an amazing energy snack. Mamra has more oil than California, but it is not the variety with the most oil content. That's Gurbandi (also known as Choti Giri).
California almonds are predominant in Indian markets because they are cheaper and easily available. Moreover, they have a sweet flavour and crunchy texture, which sets them apart from other varieties. But, they undergo heavy processing, which makes them nutritionally inferior to other varieties.
Mamra almonds are nutritionally superior when compared with the other types. Also, they are not processed chemically, making them 10 times more nutritious but less flavourful. They have higher carbohydrate, fat, and ultimately overall calories than other types, making them expensive.
If You Are Looking For More Nutritional Value, Go For Gurbandi or Kashmiri as They Are Less/Not Processed
Gurbandi and Kashmiri almonds have more oil content, meaning the almond is closer to its natural form and less/no processing is done, but low-processing also means bitter taste, so if you care more about the nutritional value, we recommend looking for higher oil content.
Gurbandi almonds are slightly bitter in flavor because of the high oil content. Because of their high nutritional value, Gurbandi is the preferred variety of almonds, they are used for making almond oil and also helps sharpen memory. They are rich in nutrients such as omega 3, vitamin E, and phytochemicals.
The next variety is popular for the region it comes from—Kashmir. This variety is sweeter because of the cold climate they are grown in and has more oil content (around 40%) than California almonds. Since Kashmiri almonds don't have a specific shape or size, it is difficult to check the ones you buy are genuine. You can buy almonds in different forms too.
Gurbani and Kashmir varieties lie between these two on the spectrum of flavour and nutrition. Gurbani or Choti giri has more fat as compared to California almonds.
Choose - Blanched Almonds Are Good for Digestion and Unblanched Improve Heart Health
Almonds with their skin removed are called blanched almonds. The brown peel of the almonds contains antioxidants and fiber, known for eliminating free radicals from your body and improving digestion. But the skin also contains biomolecules called tannins, which interfere with the complete absorption of nutrients present in badams by our body.
That's why it is recommended to eat blanched almonds. The tannins also impart a slightly bitter flavor to almonds. Blanched almonds have a buttery taste and are easily available online, but they are even more expensive than the unblanched ones.
Unblanched almonds? The skin contains antioxidants that have many health benefits including improving heart health, decreasing oxidative stress, and reducing inflammation. You can soak and peel them at home and eat them unblanched occasionally.
Blanching reduces the nutrition content of almonds as blanched almonds have reduced quantities of carbohydrate, fiber, vitamin E, vitamin B2, and calcium levels compared to unblanched almonds, but this difference is not very significant. So, the choice between blanched and unblanched is a personal one.
Pick Flavored Almonds If You Prefer Roasted With Less/No Oil
There is a way to enjoy almonds without swallowing them and still benefit from their high nutritional content. Buy flavored almonds. They can come roasted and spiced, sugar roasted, roasted and salted, dipped in chocolate, etc.
But make sure that they are roasted with very little or no oil. The roasting process releases the oils present in the almonds, changing their flavor profile. Flavored almonds are usually high in calories compared to raw almonds.
Check the nutrition table behind the pack to find out the number of calories you are consuming. Instead of the unhealthy fried potato chips and sugar-laden donuts, binge on nutrition-rich flavored almonds.
Flavored almonds are calorie-dense foods loaded with fiber and, therefore, helps to suppress appetite by providing satiety. This makes them a good snacking option for people trying to lose/maintain their weight.
So, if you are trying to shed extra kilos, make sure you include almonds in your diet. Almonds can be consumed in any manner, from spiced and roasted to sugar roasted to almond butter; make it a point to incorporate them regularly in your diet.
Get Green Almonds as They Are Inexpensive & Offer Same Health Benefits
Try green almonds for a change. They are cheaper and offer the same health benefits as mature almonds. Only the texture is different. It is a bit gelatinous and tastes just like mature almonds. You can enjoy green almonds in many ways.
You can pickle them, add them to salads, stews, and soups, and even serve them with tuna or chicken. Try green almonds dipped in sea salt. It has a distinct flavor that you will love. Add some olive oil to change the flavor and make it even healthier.
Green almonds are unripe/immature almonds. They are nutritionally similar to the regular mature almonds, have different textures and flavours. Green almonds have a thick texture, and therefore, they can be pickled or cooked like regular vegetables. One can get all the benefits of regular almonds by incorporating green almonds into their diet.
3 mybest's Selected Almonds in India (Reviewed & Rated)
Roasted Without a Single Drop of Oil
Barbeque almonds? They must have used a lot of oil to make them. Well, no. Nutty Gritties Barbeque almonds are roasted without a single drop of oil. The ingredients used for making these almonds are chilli, coriander, cumin, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, sugar, and iodized salt.
Consider this as a healthy substitute for potato chips, french fries, pizzas, and other oily foods. You can choose 200 gram packs if you have a container at home to store these almonds. But to carry it easily in your pocket or backpack to your office or a movie theater, go for the mini 21 gram packs.
The Most Nutritious Type
In India, Mamra almonds come from three places—Kashmir, Iran, and Afghanistan. Urban Platter Mamra almonds are a product of Afghanistan. This variety of almonds is nutrition-rich (contains comparatively more potassium, magnesium, calcium, etc.) and has a comparatively high sugar content, so you can consider this as an energy snack.
Urban Platter assures that there are no chemicals used in the production of these almonds. These almonds have a distinguishable concave shape, which confirms that Urban Platter Mamra almonds are indeed genuine. The reviews on Amazon also prove the same.
Contains 6 Grams of Protein per Serving
As one of the popular and mass-produced almond varieties, these California almonds are rich in protein (6 grams per serving of 30 grams), healthy fats (16 grams per serving of 30 grams), fiber (3 grams), etc. Happilo California almonds are unblanched and can be eaten soaked in milk or sprinkled on oats or corn flakes.
You don't have to get a container for storing Happilo California almonds to prevent it from going rancid, as the pouch is an easy-open resealable one. Customers have left reviews about the value for money of the product. As expected, these California almonds are sweet and can be used to make almond milk at home.
Make Almond Milk at Home
Why buy almond milk from the store when you can easily make fresh almond milk at home. Chef Dani Spies is here with a simple recipe involving five easy steps to make delicious almond milk.
- Soak the almonds in cold water
- Add vanilla extract and/or pitted date for sweetness (optional)
- Add a pinch of salt
- Blend the soaked almonds, and
- Separate almond meal from the milk
That's it. Enjoy fresh almond milk without preservatives and added sugar.
Answers to FAQs by Nutritionist Ruchi Wadhwa
There are some common questions related to almonds to which we have the answers but don't know the science behind it, so here are some of them addressed by nutritionist Ruchi Wadhwa.
What Is the Best Way to Eat Almonds?
It is best if you consume almonds after soaking them overnight. This is done to reduce the number of anti-nutrients like oxalates and phytates, which hinder the absorption of several minerals like calcium, iron, etc. Moreover, soaking helps to improve the digestibility of peel and improves the overall taste.
Do Almonds Help Sharpen Memory?
Yes, it turns out our grandparents were right; almonds do help in improving memory as they are rich in nutrients like pyridoxine, zinc, protein, and vitamin E, which are needed to improve the brain's cognitive functioning, including memory.
More Products to Make Lip-Smacking Drinks and Dishes
Talking about drinks reminds us of our love for chai. We, as Indians, just a cup of chai to relieve all the stress and feel energized. Click on the links below to check out our ten top picks and buying guides for cocoa powders, coffee, and chai patti in India.
Summary
Mamra almonds are the most nutritious and have high sugar content. If you are cutting down on sugar, we recommend minimizing your Mamra almond intake. Gurbandi can be used to extract almond oil. You will get a high yield since this variety has a high oil content. Kashmiri almonds are sweeter due to the cold climate in grow in. Pick the right variety to make almond milk, flour, oil, and many more at home.
Written by - Arun F Xaviour
Reviewed by - Nutritionist Ruchi Wadhwa
How Do We Review and Rate Products? Read Below
The top 3 products are selected based on more than 100 reviews from EC site Amazon.
Overall, the 7 remaining products are chosen based on the buying guide, thoroughly researched by the mybest team.
Reviews and Ratings
We chose products after comparing more than 100 reviews and product ratings on Amazon.
If You Prefer Sweet Almonds, Go for California and Mamra
We checked the reviews on California almonds sweet flavor and crunchy texture, and for mamra almonds, we confirmed whether or not they have a concave shape.
If You Want Natural Form of Almonds, Go for Gurbandi or Kashmiri
We checked the reviews for Gurbandi almonds, whether they have a bitter flavor and if Kashmiri almonds are sweet.
Choose - Blanched Almonds Are Good for Digestion and Unblanched Improve Heart Health
We checked if the blanched almonds have a slightly bitter flavour and a buttery taste.
Pick Flavored Almonds If You Prefer Roasted With Less/No Oil
We checked if the flavored almonds are roasted or have very little or no oil. Also, if they didn’t have too many calories.
Get Green Almonds as They Are Inexpensive & Offer Same Health Benefits
We checked if the green almonds are thick and were not highly-priced.
Top 3 Almond
No. 1: Nutty Gritties｜Barbeque Almonds
No. 2: Urban Platter｜Mamra Almonds
No. 3: Happilo｜California Almonds
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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