If you’re looking for a sweet and slightly salty treat, cinnamon-roasted almonds are about as delicious as you can get. Just a handful of these will make you smile and help quell the rumblings in your tummy. However, while these nuts are tasty and lovable, where did they originate? What’s the history behind them?
You may be surprised that this dish has been around for centuries. While it’s a relatively simple recipe, its roots go back to medieval Germany.
Since we’re suckers for a good history lesson at Almond Brothers, we wanted to dive deep and uncover the secrets of this delicious snack. Here’s what we found.
What are Cinnamon Roasted Almonds?
Cinnamon-roasted almonds are regular almonds that have been coated in a cinnamon-sugar drizzle. Because they’re covered in a simple syrup, they’re sticky, sweet, and endlessly craveable. The cinnamon makes these snacks shine and elevate them from a basic snack into something legendary and iconic.
At Almond Brothers, we love simplicity, so learning that the recipe for these almonds was basically a mixture of water, sugar, and cinnamon meant we had to make and sell them ourselves! Cinnamon-roasted almonds are consistently a top seller, particularly around Christmas and the holiday season.
Speaking of the holidays, let’s get into the history of this snack!
A Brief History of Cinnamon Roasted Almonds
If you’ve ever been to Germany at Christmas, you know it can be a magical and transcendent experience. As the countryside gets blanketed in snow, Christmas markets pop up everywhere to sell customers (both local and foreign) a wide array of trinkets, clothes, knick-knacks, and assorted goods. Most of these items are related to the holiday, but vendors can sell all kinds of products to throngs of people.
As you wander around these markets, you’ll notice a distinct and intoxicating aroma filling the air. It smells sweet and earthy, and you can’t help but follow your nose to its source. That source will likely be a local roaster making fresh batches of cinnamon-roasted almonds.
These sugar-coated nuts have been a part of the Christmas market scene since practically the beginning, although it’s hard to pinpoint an exact date. Also, it’s unclear who holds the “official” title of developing the recipe, as many vendors started selling them as soon as customers started buying them in droves.
But how far back does this tradition go?
Historians say the oldest Christmas market opened in 1434 in Dresden, Germany. That market is one of the most popular in the country and still draws up to 2.5 million visitors worldwide every year. Similarly, the market in Nuremberg traces its history to about 1530, although the technical “official” start date wasn’t until 1628.
No matter how you look at it, cinnamon-roasted almonds have been around for centuries, and we love that they’re deeply connected to such a magical and special time of year.
Many German Nut Roasters have been around almost as long as the markets, passing their tricks and tips to each new generation. In some cases, the company may still be using the same copper roasting machinery from a century ago. These businesses take immense pride in being a part of Germany’s history, and Almond Brothers is proud to be a part of it too!
Can You Make Cinnamon Roasted Almonds at Home?
The short answer is yes, you can make your own cinnamon-roasted almonds at home. However, the process can be tricky to master, especially if you don’t have the right equipment. Leave that up to us at Almond Brothers for all of your cinnamon roasted almond needs.
Get Your Cinnamon Roasted Almonds from Almond Brothers!
While making your own fresh batch of cinnamon-roasted almonds can be a real treat, why not let us handle the hard work so you can just enjoy the spoils? Whether it’s the holiday season or you need a quick pick-me-up, our almonds will surely hit the spot.
Better yet, we have a wide assortment of delicious almond flavors, including applewood smoked sea salt, cappuccino cocoa, lemon roasted, and orange almond with cayenne pepper. We also sell cashews and pecans for your enjoyment. Place an order today!