Nuts are perhaps the original health food, the main source of nutrition for many animals, and as apparently basic as food gets. Taking us on a gastronomic, botanical, and cultural tour of nuts around the world, Nuts is the first book of its kind about this foodstuff, crammed with surprising and little-known facts. As allergy sufferers will know, nuts get almost everywhere, being used industrially, in confectionary and in all sorts of cooking-- Nuts gives us the full story, through cultivation, harvesting, processing, and consumption. Ken Albala, author of many books on food, immerses us in the modern-day uses of the nut, providing a comprehensive account of how it has been cooked, prepared, and exploited around the globe, while simultaneously discussing the social and cultural meaning of nuts during various periods in history. No stone is left unturned in this spirited account of the oldest and most natural food on earth. Written for a general audience, this tidy volume is stuffed with tidbits and fascinating nuggets about the humble nut, and comes complete with recipes to try out for nut-lovers. Whether interested in nuts, or just food generally, the remarkable story of how a simple, primal food came to such popular and varied use is sure to entertain and inform in equal measure.