What to look for when buying almonds

Almonds look simple, but a few small checks can tell you a lot about what is inside the pack.

Look at the appearance

Good almonds are fairly uniform in size and colour, and look clean, without dark patches or broken pieces.

Smell them

Fresh almonds have a mild, pleasant nutty smell. A sharp, bitter or stale smell is a sign to avoid them.

Taste one

A fresh almond should be crunchy and lightly sweet. If it is chewy, soft or bitter, it is not at its best.

Read the label

A proper pack tells you the product name, weight, ingredients, storage instructions and FSSAI details. Transparency on the label is a good sign of a brand you can trust.