where does one find or can find seattle area;
  OIL OF BITTER ALMONDS ; USED IN GOURMET COOKING?

Hi eggo-ga... Success!

First, in response to the comment about the illegality of selling
bitter almonds in the US, I found the the following from GNC.com's
food guide (I came across the same information on many sites):

"Almond varieties are classified as either sweet or bitter. The
almonds widely available for eating are known as the sweet almond, of
which there are over 100 varieties grown in California alone. The
bitter almond contains toxins that are removed from the bitter almond
oil before it is used in food production."

After searching Seattle's gourmet grocers with no luck, I started
searching aromatherapy and essential oil shops, and found it!

Tenzing Momo's, in Pike's Place (800-365-9682 or 206-623-9837)
essential oils page: http://www.specialtybottle.com/~tenzing/o.html
"premium oils from around the world for Aromatherapy and other common
uses.  Supplying essential oils since 1979"
(I called and confirmed that they have it in stock.)


I also found the following online resources:

Crystal Mountain Aromatics
http://www.crystalmountain-aromatics.com/oils/almond.htm

Cedar Vale Natural Health
http://www.cedarvale.net/essentialoils/almondbitter.htm

Golda's Kitchen
http://www.goldaskitchen.com/merchant.ihtml?id=90&pid=2094&step=4

Cybercakes.com
http://www.cybercakes.com/candy_flavors.html


I hope this is what you are looking for...  If I can be of any further
help, please feel free to request clarification!

Best,
Rebeccam-ga

I searched for:

"bitter almond oil"
( ://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=%22bitter+almond+oil%22
)

seattle gourmet resources
( ://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=seattle+gourmet+resources
)

seattle "essential oil"
( ://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=seattle+%22essential+oil%22
)

Hi Eggo,

I'm posting this as a comment, rather than an answer as it doesn't
really help you find Bitter almond oil in Seattle.  In fact, the sale
bitter almonds (and the oil) is illegal in the U.S. according to an
article I ran across:

Seattle Times, Pacific Northwest Magazine (April 22, 2001)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2001/0422/taste.html

"California's trees are of the sweet-almond variety, whereas the trees
in the story may well have been bitter almonds - a variety we don't
encounter in the United States because its sale is illegal.

Bitter almonds contain a small quantity of a substance that, in the
presence of water, forms deadly prussic acid. This substance is also
present in the kernels of prunes, peaches and apricots - other fruit
trees that, like the almond, belong to the rose family. Heat destroys
the poison, so cooking renders it harmless."

Bitter almonds are used in Europe to press an oil that is more
fragrant and flavorful than the bland oil pressed from sweet almonds.
They also are used to make bitter-almond extract, which imparts highly
concentrated almond flavor, and very sparingly (one bitter almond per
100 sweet almonds), to add nuance to marzipan, the famous confection
of almonds and sugar. In Italy, bitter-almond paste was traditionally
used to make the crisp amaretti cookies, and bitter-almond extract
gave amaretto liqueur its character."

***

OTHER RELEVANT SITES

JoyOfBaking.com:  Almonds
http://www.joyofbaking.com/almonds.html

"Bitter almonds are illegal in the United States.  They have a
stronger flavor than the sweet almonds but also contain prussic acid,
which is toxic when raw.  The acid's toxicity is destroyed when the
almonds are processed.   Bitter almonds are mainly used in extracts
and flavorings."


International Recipes Online:  Food & Wine Dictionary -- ALMOND
http://www.simpleinternet.com/recipes/dictionary.pl?173

"Though the acid's toxicity is destroyed when the nuts are heated, the
sale of bitter almonds is illegal in the United States."

***

SEARCH STRATEGY

oil of bitter almonds seattle
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=oil+of+bitter+almonds+seattle

bitter almonds illegal
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=bitter+almonds+illegal

***

I'm sorry I wasn't able to find this product for you!  

>Librarygopher

Greetings!

I am awaiting an answer from a Seattle merchant who is trying to
locate the product, per my request.

I will post the answer once I receive his reply.

Cross your fingers! :)


madsky101