Almonds, Sugar-Coated For Weddings: A Step-By-Step Guide

Sugar-coated almonds, also known as Jordan almonds, are a common treat at weddings, especially in Italy and Greece. They are said to symbolise the bittersweet taste of life, with the sugar coating adding a sweet wish for the couple's future. The almonds are usually distributed in fives, symbolising health, wealth, cheerfulness, fertility, and long life. They are often wrapped in tulle and tied with a ribbon, or placed in small boxes, bags, or other containers. Making sugar-coated almonds is simple and only requires a few ingredients, such as sugar, almonds, rice starch, and flavourings.

Sugared almonds as wedding favours

Sugared almonds are a classic wedding favour, and it is a long-standing tradition to give them to guests. They are tasty, versatile, and symbolic.

The History

Sugared almonds, or Jordan almonds, are sugar-coated almond candies. They come in various colours, shapes, and flavours. The ancient Romans used honey-coated almond candies to celebrate weddings and births, and literary documents trace the candy's origins to 1350.

The Meaning

The almonds are said to represent the bittersweet taste of life, with the sugar coating symbolising a couple's wish for a sweet life together. In Italy, five almonds are given to each guest, symbolising five wishes for the couple: health, wealth, cheerfulness, fertility, and long life. In Greece, the almonds are given in odd numbers, representing the unity of the couple.

How to Package Them

Sugared almonds can be packaged in several ways to give to guests as wedding favours. You can cut out circles of coloured tulle, place five almonds in the centre, gather the fabric around them, and tie it with a ribbon. Tulle bags can also be used, and the almonds can be placed in boxes made of sugar, paper, plastic, metal, or straw. They can also be displayed in glassware such as champagne flutes or bowls.

Adding a Personal Touch

You can add a personal touch to your sugared almond wedding favours by choosing colours that match your wedding theme. You can also include a small card or note explaining the symbolism of the almonds and their significance to the couple.

Alternative Ways to Include Them

If you don't want to give sugared almonds as wedding favours, you can incorporate them into your wedding in other ways. You can add them to your wedding cake or dessert table or use them as table decorations.

The history of Jordan almonds

Jordan almonds, also known as sugared almonds, dragées, or confetti, are sugar-coated almond candies. They are distributed as wedding favours and are especially common in Italian and Greek weddings.

History of Jordan Almonds

Jordan almonds are thought to have originated around 177 BC when confectioner Julius Dragatus began coating almonds in honey. These treats were a staple at aristocratic weddings and special events. As sugar became more widely available, sugar-based coatings replaced honey.

There are several theories about how Jordan almonds got their name. Some believe it is a variation of the French word "jardin", which means garden. Wild almonds can be poisonous, so it was important to distinguish between wild and garden-cultivated almonds. Others think the name comes from the Jordan River in the Middle East, as the original nuts may have grown there. A third theory suggests that "Jordan" is derived from Verdun, a town in France where apothecaries in the 13th century began coating unpalatable medicines in sugar, creating dragées.

The first literary mention of Jordan almonds was in Boccaccio's Decameron in the 1350s. They were also referenced in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance Age, as ancient Romans used them to celebrate various occasions, including weddings and births. In the Renaissance, confetti (as they were called in Italy) were served at important meals and made with candied fruits, almonds, dried fruits, aromatic seeds, hazelnuts, pine nuts, or cinnamon, covered in a hard sugar coating.

The town of Sulmona in Italy is particularly associated with Jordan almonds, where they are known as "confetti". The Monastery Santa Chiara nuns began making rosaries out of confetti in the 15th century, and the Pelino family established a Confetti factory in 1753, which still stands today.

Jordan almonds are traditionally given in odd, single-digit numbers at weddings, representing the couple's unity and shared equality in marriage. In Italian weddings, five almonds are given to the couple, symbolising fertility, wealth, health, happiness, and long life. In Greek weddings, Jordan almonds are called "koufeta" and are served in odd numbers on a silver tray. In both cultures, it is believed that if an unmarried woman places Jordan almonds under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband.

How to make sugar-coated almonds

Sugar-coated almonds, also known as Jordan almonds or dragées, are a common treat at weddings, especially in Italian and Greek cultures. They are said to symbolise the bittersweet taste of life, with the sugar coating adding a sweet wish for the couple's future.

Ingredients:

• Almonds
• Sugar
• Water
• Flavouring/Colouring (optional)

Method:

Start by preparing a simple syrup by heating equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup reaches a temperature of 300°F (150°C). You can add food colouring or flavouring to the syrup if desired.

Next, add the almonds to the syrup and stir gently to coat them evenly. Spread the coated almonds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure they are not touching each other. Allow them to cool and dry completely, which can take a few hours.

Once the almonds are dry, you can store them in an airtight container until ready to serve or package as wedding favours.

Packaging Ideas:

The traditional way to package sugar-coated almonds is in small bags made of tulle, tied with a ribbon. You can also place them in small boxes, jars, or glasses, especially if using them as table decorations. It is customary to give five sugar-coated almonds to each guest, representing wishes for health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and a long life.

Feel free to get creative with colours and flavours to match your wedding theme!

Displaying sugar-coated almonds at a wedding

Sugar-coated almonds, also known as Jordan almonds, dragées or confetti, are a classic wedding confectionery. They are often used as wedding favours, given to guests to take home as a tasty treat and reminder of the special occasion.

Table Decorations

Place the sugar-coated almonds on each table, Italian-style, by having clusters of almonds wrapped in tulle and tied with a ribbon. Alternatively, pour a handful of almonds into champagne glasses or glass bowls on the reception tables. This will greet your guests with a sugary treat as they enter the reception. Just remember to attach a small card explaining the almonds' meaning so that guests don't mistake them for a palate cleanser!

Wedding Cake Flavour

Ask your wedding cake baker to make a Jordan almond-flavoured cake. You can even ask them to decorate the outside of the cake with Jordan almonds. Just make sure the colours of the almonds you choose match your wedding colour scheme and convey the meaning you want them to.

Dessert Table

Add a glass jar or any container of your choosing, filled with Jordan almonds, to your dessert table or candy bar. You can stick to the traditional white Jordan almonds or choose different colours to personalise your candy and dessert area.

Wedding Favours

Jordan almond wedding favours are the most common way to include these treats in your wedding. Package a few almonds in boxes made of sugar, paper, plastic, metal or straw. You could also put them in decorative bags. Try to display them in a way that matches your wedding theme. Don't forget to add a short note about the Jordan almonds' meaning for your guests.

Around the Reception Venue

If you decide against using them as favours, you can still incorporate the symbolic almonds into your wedding by scattering them throughout the reception venue and on the wedding breakfast tables. Use large martini glasses, glass bowls, or oversized jars to contain the almonds and place a sign or note with them, instructing guests to take five to signify health, wealth, happiness, fertility and longevity.

The symbolism of sugar-coated almonds

Sugar-coated almonds, also known as Jordan almonds, dragées, or confetti, are a common feature at weddings, particularly in Italy and Greece. They are often distributed as wedding favours, with guests receiving five almonds, each representing a different wish: health, wealth, cheerfulness, fertility, and long life. The almonds are typically coated in white, pale pink, or pale blue sugar and wrapped in matching tulle tied with a ribbon.

> Five sugared almonds for each guest to eat

> To remind us that life is both bitter and sweet.

> Five wishes for the new husband and wife

> Health, wealth, happiness, children, and a long life!

In Greek weddings, sugar-coated almonds are known as "koufeta" and are served in odd numbers, symbolising the indivisible bond between the newlyweds. In both Italian and Greek cultures, the almonds are believed to have aphrodisiac properties, and an unmarried woman is thought to dream of her future husband if she sleeps with a handful of almonds under her pillow.

The shape of the sugar-coated almonds is also symbolic, with the egg shape being associated with fertility. The colour of the almonds can also hold significance, with white being common at weddings, green at engagement parties, and red at graduation celebrations.

Frequently asked questions