Legacies from Turkish Cuisine to World Cuisine: Hazelnut

Hazelnut is one of the nuts that have an important place in our culture. It is a must for nuts, indispensable for conversations with tea in the evening. Hazelnut and hazelnut varieties are also very rich products in terms of nutritional value. While it can be consumed as nuts, hazelnut varieties are frequently used in desserts, cakes, cookies, and cakes. Hazelnut, which is also preferred in traditional milk and syrup desserts, gives a different flavor to the product added to it. Hazelnut can be consumed in different ways.Hazelnut varieties; raw hazelnuts, shelled hazelnuts, roasted hazelnuts, roasted salted hazelnuts.

Turkey ranks first in the world in terms of hazelnut production. The main countries producing hazelnuts in the world are; Turkey, Italy, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Apart from these countries, hazelnut production is quite common in Iran, Australia, China, and France. Not only as a nut but also in terms of daily consumption, there are also hazelnuts in foods. For this reason, the consumption of hazelnuts and products containing hazelnuts is common in the world.

Hazelnut varieties, which also have an important place in terms of commercial production, are consumed frequently throughout the world. Hazelnut prices, on the other hand, vary annually according to conditions such as harvest and season.

What is Hazelnut?

Hazelnut is a type of shrub and tree from the birch family (Betulaceae). Hazelnut tree has hard-shelled fruits. The tips of the leaves are double-toothed and pointed. Hazelnut tree blooms in spring. The hazelnut tree can grow up to 5 meters in height. An average hazelnut tree is 3 meters tall. Trees shed their leaves in winter. Its flowering is in March and April in our country.

Hazelnut trees have male flowers and female flowers. The female flowers are quite small in size and are hidden inside the buds during the winter season. Male flowers are cat-shaped and have a length of 5-12 cm. The outer part that keeps the hazelnut inside is called Çotanak. The green chotanak usually contains more than one hazelnut.

History of Hazelnut

In terms of history, hazelnut takes its name from the ancient name of the Black Sea. It is derived from the name of the Black Sea region, which was called Pont Exinus in ancient times. Its origin as a word is based on the name "pontic", which derives from this name. It is known by names such as fonduk, bunduk, nux, leptokarion in different languages. In Turkish culture, the name hazelnut has passed through three different stages. After the names of kosuk, çetlevük, and bunduk, hazelnut took its current name.

The history of hazelnut dates back to 10000 BC according to archaeological sources. It is known that hazelnut cultivation was also practiced in China in ancient times. It is stated that in the 2000s BC, hazelnuts were among the sacred fruits. Since ancient times, the hazelnut has been a very popular product used in many areas of daily life.

How Does Hazelnut Grow?

Hazelnut tree is a type of tree that can grow at an altitude of at least 10 meters. The highest altitude it can live at is 1600 meters. It grows mainly in the Black Sea region of our country. There are hazelnut trees in provinces such as Giresun, Düzce, Zonguldak, Ordu, Rize, Trabzon, Sakarya, Isparta, Hatay, Sinop, Erzurum, Balıkesir. The region where the hazelnut tree grows best in the world is the Eastern Black Sea region in Turkey. There are approximately 20 types of hazelnut trees.

Precipitation comes first among the growing conditions for hazelnuts. Annual rainfall is between 1000-2000mm. As a climate condition, the hazelnut tree can easily grow in climates with mild winters. Hazelnut, which loves humus soil, is among the dried nut species that have a wide place in our country and culture.

What are the Hazelnut Types?

Hazelnut, which is a nut that is consumed fondly today, has different varieties. Among the most popular mixed snack packages are hazelnut varieties. The prices of hazelnuts in nuts vary according to the type of hazelnut. Hazelnut varieties according to the type of consumption; raw hazelnuts, shelled hazelnuts, roasted hazelnuts, roasted salted hazelnuts.

Hazelnut varieties according to their structural type; It is collected in three categories as round hazelnut (chubby hazelnut), almond hazelnut, and pointed hazelnut.

Round nuts are also known as chubby nuts. The thickness and width dimensions of these hazelnuts, which are round in shape, are close to each other. In terms of size, round hazelnuts, which are medium in size, have high protein and fat ratios. It can be broken easily thanks to its rounded forms.

Almond hazelnuts are divided into flat almonds and ground almonds. Almond hazelnut, which has a long oil in its form, is a type of snack that can be easily consumed without drying.

Pointed hazelnuts, pointed hazelnuts, which have a long-form in structure, are mainly preferred in the sale of shelled hazelnuts among the dried nuts.

Raw Hazelnut

Theraw hazelnut kernel, which is found in dried nuts, refers to the state of the hazelnut that has been separated from its shell without being processed. The hazelnuts separated from their shells are packaged without being roasted. Raw hazelnut kernels, which are among the delightful snacks, are a snack that you can easily eat at any time of the day. You can enjoy it with tea in the evening, during the day, at snacks, at school or the office.

Shelled Hazelnuts

The shelled hazelnut, which is among the dried fruit varieties, refers to the state of the hazelnut after it is separated from the chotanak section. The hazelnut, which is separated from the Çotanak part, is packaged with its shell.Shelled hazelnuts, which are among the delightful snack varieties, can be consumed easily at any time of the day. After the shells are broken, you can easily eat them as raw hazelnuts or as roasted hazelnuts. You can enjoy it with tea in the evening, during the day, at snacks, at school or the office.

Roasted Hazelnuts

Roasted hazelnut kernel, which is among the hazelnut varieties, is one of the most popular types of nuts. Roasted hazelnut kernels are obtained by separating the hazelnuts from their shells by roasting. Roasted hazelnut, which is among the delightful snacks, is a snack that you can easily eat at any time of the day. You can enjoy it with tea in the evening, during the day, at snacks, at school or the office.

Roasted Salted Hazelnuts

Roasted salted hazelnuts, which are among the hazelnut varieties, are one of the most popular types of nuts.Roasted salted hazelnuts are obtained by separating the hazelnuts from their shells by roasting and salting them. Roasted salted hazelnuts, which are among the delightful snacks, are a snack that you can easily eat at any time of the day. You can enjoy it with tea in the evening, during the day, at snacks, at school or the office.