If you are in the market for almond firewood, it can be helpful to know when the wood was harvested. This can help you to make sure you are getting properly seasoned firewood that will be easy to light. Almond wood normally has a light brown bark with a slightly rough texture, but the wood itself may be a brownish-gray color. This type of firewood generally has little or no sap, so sticky pieces could be an indication that almond wood has been mixed with other varieties.
It can be difficult to burn firewood that has not been properly seasoned. Seasoned wood is allowed to dry out as much as possible without becoming brittle. Almond firewood normally takes around six months to season, so it might be a good idea to find out when the wood was cut and how it was stored thereafter. To help the wood season, almond firewood should be placed in stacks around 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.2 m) high, with an area for air flow at least 2 to 3 feet (0.61 to 0.92 m) all the way around the stacks.
Another way to tell whether your almond firewood is well-seasoned is by looking at the wood itself. Properly seasoned wood will be light brown or gray in color rather than white or green. It will also feel somewhat dry to the touch, with the bark being rough but not flaky. The wood will also have a light nutty fragrance, so if you notice a strong odor it is more likely the wood has been cut very recently.
Although the almond tree is actually a member of the fruit tree group, this plant does not usually contain a great deal of sap. Firewood that contains sap can put off a strong odor and may be difficult to burn, so you should avoid buying wood that is sticky, whenever possible. You may want to check your almond firewood to see if it contains sap, as this variety is sometimes mixed with other fruit woods such as cherry or apple. Should you find a few pieces that do, you may want to ask if you are buying an entire lot of almond wood or if the rick also contains other varieties.
There are many benefits of almond wood including a long burning time, high heat output, and ease in lighting. For these reasons, almond firewood is a popular variety and may therefore be more expensive than other types of firewood. Even so, its pleasant aroma can add a nice flavor to meats cooked over an open fire, making this a good choice for both indoor and outdoor fireplaces.
