All About Hazelnuts

The humble hazelnut has been around since prehistoric times, originating in Asia – where the delicious tree nut was considered one of the five sacred foods of that time – with evidence of hazelnuts found across Europe since around 8,000 BCE.  

Not only are hazelnuts a versatile ingredient, with a distinctive flavour, great texture, and nutritional benefits, they’re also woven into many cultural traditions. The Ancient Romans used hazel branches in wedding ceremonies, and in Ireland, hazel was referred to as the ‘Tree of Knowledge’, and in medieval times, was a symbol of fertility. In England, hazelnuts were carried as good luck charms, and hazel rods were used for water-divining and warding off evil spirits. 

Italy, the home of gianduja (and your favourite chocolate and hazelnut flavoured spread) is the world’s top consumer of hazelnuts today, with 78,000 metric tons eaten each year! Turkey, the biggest producer of hazelnuts, comes in second place, with 60,000 MT consumed per year. 

With the popularity of the classic nut still growing, especially in bakery and confectionery, we wanted to take a deep dive into everything hazelnut and show you how to make the most of this versatile nut!