Almonds from Mountain Taygetos include the varieties Texas Mission and Ferragnes. They are harvested late August and then hulled and dried. In addition to being eaten raw, the almond is used in both sweet and savory dishes and for the production of almond oil. The almond tree is considered a symbol of good luck and longevity. Jordan almonds or koufetta, almonds coated with sugar, are traditionally offered at Greek weddings.
Almonds are a good source of protein (21%) and have moderate carbohydrate content, which is gradually released into the blood stream, ranking nuts a food with a low glycemic index. Furthermore, they are one of the highest in fat plant foods after olives, oils and fats, containing "good" fat, that is, monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fat. Almonds contain vitamin E, which has strong antioxidant activity as well as vitamins A and B. The majority of their antioxidants are found in the almond skin. Almonds are very high in magnesium, which promotes bone health. They also contain calcium and potassium. Recent studies show that eating almonds helps reduce thrombosis, inflammation and oxidative stress.