Jordan Almonds

Jordan almonds - also known as dragees or simply "sugared almonds" - are a very popular form of edible wedding favour/favor. There are especially popular in the US however they are also a tradition on some European and Middle Eastern countries.

One thing that may be slightly confusing to English speakers is that jordan almonds are known in some countries as confetti - this has nothing to do with the little paper shapes which are often thrown at weddings.

What Are Jordan Almonds?

A jordan almond is essentially just a sweet candy - an almond that has been coated in sugar.

You can buy jordan almonds in a variety of forms and colours, from basic white to rainbow coloured and even coated in edible silver or gold. Plus, of course, glorious chocolate. The latter are probably not historically authentic - but if there's chocolate involved, who cares about history?

Obviously if you're catering for an entire wedding reception it'll be more cost effective to buy in bulk. As with all confectionery, quality can vary so you might want to buy and try a small amount before ordering for the entire wedding party.

Always remember that many people suffer from serious nut allergies - make sure people are aware that the favors they're receiving are nut based.

Symbolism

There are a number of symbolic meanings assigned to the jordan almond although it's difficult to tell how authentic these are.

One such interpetation is that the sweet sugar and the bitter almond combine to indicate the "bittersweet" nature of married life. A rather more optimistic view would be that the almond represents fertility and growth, wrapped in the sweetness of marriage. But that might be just a little too sugary for our modern times...

Each guest should be given an odd number of jordan almonds, the theory being that odd numbers are indivisible - as will be the marriage. Five is a common number, these representing health, wealth, happiness, children and long life.