Yes, you can eat almond fruit. The entire fruit, including the soft developing seed, is edible.
While most people are familiar with the almond nut, the fruit surrounding it is often overlooked. This fruit is described as having a delicate, somewhat tart flavor, with hints of almond, especially later in the fruit-eating season. Some describe the taste as being a little like a vegetable. It's important to note that the flavor profile can vary depending on the stage of ripeness.
It is important to distinguish between the almond fruit and the almond seed (which we commonly call the "almond nut"). Both are edible, but the fruit is often eaten fresh, while the seed requires specific processing methods to be safe and palatable.
It's also crucial to differentiate edible almonds from bitter almonds. Bitter almonds contain significant amounts of amygdalin, which can release cyanide when ingested. Therefore, bitter almonds require processing to remove the toxins, while sweet almonds are safe to eat directly. The developing almond fruit is generally not toxic, but taste before consuming a large quantity.