Hazelnuts

Hazelnut is also called filbert. It is the edible nut of a hazel, having a hard smooth brown shell. These nuts grow in bunch on the tree in temperate zones around the world. The fuzzy outer husk opens as the nut ripens, revealing a hard, smooth shell.

Hazel nut is cultivated in orchards in Europe, Turkey, Iran and Caucasus. In fact, the name “hazelnut” applies to the nuts of any of the species of the genus Corylus. This hazelnut or cobnut, the kernel of the seed, is edible and used raw or roasted, or ground into a paste. The seed has a thin, dark brown skin which has a bitter flavor and is sometimes removed before cooking.