Description

Apricot kernels

Apricot kernels are the edible seeds found inside the hard pit (stone) of apricot kernel. They look a bit like small almonds and have been used in traditional medicine and sometimes as a flavoring.

Here are the key points:

• 🌱 Types:

  • Sweet apricot kernels – mild in taste, sometimes used in cooking (like Italian amaretto liqueur and amaretti cookies).

  • Bitter apricot kernels – contain higher amounts of amygdalin, a natural compound that can release cyanide in the body.

• ⚗️ Chemical component:

  • Amygdalin (aka “laetrile” or “vitamin B17” in alternative health circles) is present in bitter kernels. When metabolized, it produces hydrogen cyanide, which is toxic.

• ⚠️ Health risks:

  • Eating too many bitter kernels can cause cyanide poisoning (symptoms: nausea, headache, dizziness, difficulty breathing, even death in severe cases).

  • Because of this, some countries (like the EU, US, and Australia) regulate or restrict their sale.

• 🌍 Traditional uses:

  • Used in Chinese medicine (called xing ren, 杏仁), mainly to relieve coughs or asthma.

  • Sometimes used in small amounts for flavor in cuisines.

• 🧪 Cancer claims:

  • Apricot kernels and “laetrile” were promoted as an alternative cancer treatment in the 1970s.

  • Scientific studies have found no proven anti-cancer benefit, and risks of cyanide poisoning are significant.

1. Sweet apricot
Moisture ≤ 6%
Broken ≤ 3%
Hidden bad ≤ 6%
Purity ≥ 99%
Size:700pcs/500g 750ps/500g

2.Bitter apricot
Moisture ≤ 6%,
Broken ≤ 3%
Hidden bad ≤ 6%
Purity ≥ 99%
Size:1500pcs/500g