These are my favorite Marcona almonds -- lightly sautéed in oil, sprinkled with sea salt and sealed in a plastic bag for freshness.

Don't confuse them with their American cousins which have quite a different flavor. Crunchy Marcona almonds are smooth and juicy with an incomparably sweet delicate taste. The 2.2 pound bag is the perfect size for almond lovers - and their guests.

Spain is the only source of Marcona almonds in the world. Since Spaniards covet them for many of their traditional gourmet treats, there remains a very limited supply of Marcona almonds for the rest of the world.

What makes Marconas even more precious is that the trees are early bloomers, making them especially vulnerable to late spring frosts. The small groves are found along the Mediterranean coasts of Spain -- from the southern coast of Málaga, proceeding east up the Mediterranean coast to Tarragona.

Unlike California almonds with their light brown porous shells, Marcona almonds have a protective hard shell that resists insects. For this reason they may be grown naturally with no need for herbicides.

Almonds are one of the healthiest snacks. The nutrient density is so high that a small portion provides substantial nutrients. They also have a high content of cholesterol fighting mono unsaturated oil. A recent study showed that when people eat roughly a handful of almonds a day, they lowered their LDL cholesterol by 3%!