Almondette (Buchanania lanzan)

Family: Anacardiaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Buchanania lanzan or Almondette is an evergreen tree that grows around 18 m tall and is found in East Asia. The fruit is eaten fresh or dried for later consumption. Almondette has an almond-flavoured seeds known as 'charoli' that is used mainly in India as a cooking spice and dessert. The seed produces oil with a sweet flavour and pleasant scent thus it can be used as substitute for almond or olive oil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavour, somewhat reminiscent of almonds or pistachios. — Seed - raw or cooked.; An excellent flavour, somewhat reminiscent of almonds or pistachios.; Eaten as a dessert seed and also used in sweetmeats.; In some parts of India the dried fruit and seed are baked together to make a sort of bread.

Habitat & North American Range

In open and dry forests on poor soils. Lowland forests in southern China at elevations of 100 - 900 metres. (Zone 10)