Hazelnut
Edible nut of the hazel tree, used in food and confectionery.
The hazelnut is the fruit of the hazel tree, encompassing nuts from species of the genus Corylus, particularly Corylus avellana. Also known as cobnuts or filberts depending on the species, hazelnuts are used as a snack food, in baking, desserts, breakfast cereals, and confectionery, including praline, chocolate truffles, chocolate bars, and hazelnut cocoa spreads such as Nutella, as well as in Frangelico liqueur. Hazelnut oil, pressed from the nuts, is strongly flavored and high in monounsaturated fat, used as a cooking oil and salad dressing.
Quick Facts
- Field
- Agriculture; Food
- Known for
- Edible nut of the hazel tree, major global crop
- Nut to fruit ratio
- 33.2% to 49.5% depending on cultivar
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Evidence of large-scale Mesolithic hazelnut processing, some 8,000 years old, was found in a midden pit on the island of Colonsay in Scotland. The pit contained hundreds of thousands of burned hazelnut shells, radiocarbon dated to about 6000 BCE. The shells were burned from gathered nuts, not from felling trees en masse. The scale of activity and scarcity of large game on the island suggest the community may have supplemented their diet with seafood or game, though their exact diet remains uncertain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tree does the hazelnut come from?
Hazelnuts are the fruit of the hazel tree, a member of the Corylus genus. The most commonly grown species is Corylus avellana, which produces the small round nuts you find in most grocery stores.
Which country grows the most hazelnuts?
Turkey dominates global hazelnut output, supplying roughly 57.7% of the world's total. In 2023, worldwide production reached about 1.13 million tonnes measured in shells.
What's the difference between a hazelnut, a cobnut, and a filbert?
All three are edible nuts from the Corylus genus, but they come from different species. The common hazelnut is Corylus avellana, while cobnuts and filberts refer to other related species with slightly different nut shapes and sizes.
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