Sweet Apricot Kernels (Apricot Seeds)

Sweet apricot kernels, also sold as apricot seeds, are the soft, almond-shaped nut found inside the apricot pit. Ours are the sweet culinary variety, not the bitter type: mild and gently nutty, with a marzipan-like flavour. Raw they are creamy and delicate; lightly toasted they crisp up and taste close to amaretto. Each kernel is flat and teardrop-shaped, smaller than an almond, with a thin brown skin over a creamy white centre.

They are a traditional ingredient in Italian amaretti and marzipan, Afghan and Middle Eastern sweets, and Chinese almond desserts, where they are known as xing ren. Use them in biscotti, frangipane and stone-fruit tarts, toast them with a pinch of salt as a snack, or chop them into granola, yogurt and pilaf. In Chinese cooking they go into almond tofu, sweet almond soup and almond tea, and they can be ground into a fine meal to replace part of the almond flour in cakes and macarons. To skin them, soak the kernels in just-boiled water for a few minutes, then pinch each one and the skin slips off, the same way you would blanch almonds. To toast, stir them in a dry pan over medium heat for three to four minutes until fragrant.

Single ingredient, 100% apricot kernels with nothing added. Every lot is food-grade and tested to meet Health Canada's 20 ppm limit for total extractable cyanide. Available in 200g, 400g and 1kg.

Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, or refrigerate in an airtight container to protect the natural oils.

Botanical name: Prunus armeniaca
Also known as: Apricot seeds, sweet apricot seeds, apricot nuts, Armenian almonds, badam-e-zardaloo, xing ren, nan xing ren, kayısı çekirdeği

Sold as a culinary food ingredient. Enjoy in normal recipe amounts and keep away from children.