ALMONDS, TURI'S GOLD

Historical Origins: The cultivation of almonds in Apulia dates back over two thousand years, with roots in ancient times. An example is the soft-shelled almonds, called mollesche, which were already consumed during banquets in Tarentum of Magna Graecia.

The province of Bari, and in particular Turi, is an important centre for the production of Apulian almonds, renowned worldwide for their excellent quality. Today, Apulia has around 19,000 hectares of almond orchards, of which 150 hectares are cultivated in the Turi area.

In the past, almonds were not only consumed as dried fruit. They were also important for medicine and pharmacology, used in the production of oils, perfumes, and ointments.

Today, their main use is in confectionery and pastry. In Turi, the tradition of almond-based sweets has deep roots, influenced by convents and monasteries. A total of 16 varieties of almond sweets are produced, passed down from generation to generation.