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Hazelnuts

Latin Name: Corylus avellana

Family: Betulaceae

Discovery: The cultivated hazelnut is native to Europe and Asia. However it was already present in the Greek Roman Mythology as well as in the Bible. Nowadays the hazelnut is being produced in Turkey, Spain, Italy, France and parts of the USA. This is because hazelnuts prefer mild, moist winters and cool summers.

Height: The height of the hazelnut tree varies between three to five metres. Its trunk is quite thin. The leaves can have different shapes. Some of them are round other more heart shaped. In any case their structure is relatively thick.

Nut production: Trees begin bearing as from the age of 3 and can bear for up to 50 years. A common tree produces 9-14 kg of dried fruit a year.

The Fruit: The hazelnut grows in clusters of 2-12. The kernel is loosely covered by the hard pericarp. The nuts are surrounded by a green, leafy husk. When the nut is ripe, the fuzzy outer husk breaks open and reveals the nut shell

Harvest and processing: In Europe, the hazelnuts are harvested by hand whereas in the USA this process is done mechanically. In September and October the nuts drop naturally during a six week period. The remaining nuts are removed with the wind created by a helicopter or the natural wind if strong enough. After collection, the nuts are washed in mild chlorine and are dried to 8% moisture.

Nutritional information:

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