Jordan almonds are often used as wedding favors, with the "bitter" almonds and the "sweet" sugar symbolizing the bitterness of life and sweetness of love. The treats are often packaged in groups of five to represent happiness, health, longevity, wealth, and fertility. At European weddings, the almonds are placed in groups of five — an odd number that is indivisible — to symbolize the unity of husband and wife. In the Middle East, Jordan almonds are considered an aphrodisiac so there are always plenty on hand for the newlyweds and their guests.
The term "Jordan" is most likely a corrupted version of the French word jardin, meaning 'garden', hence, a cultivated rather than wild almond. It is also hypothesized to refer to a variety of almonds originally grown along the Jordan River characterized by long, thin, slender, rather smooth kernels in thick, heavy shells.