The hazelnut has been known as a food for thousands of years. It is considered valuable to both humans and wildlife due to its healthy fatty acids and calorie density, among others. But where does the plant with the delicious nuts come from?
A long journey through Asia and Europe
Although the hazelnut grows rampant in many corners of Germany and is therefore considered a nuisance by some gardeners, it originally comes from another region. As a member of the birch family, it is now widespread in many parts of Central Europe. You can find suitable locations here.
If the hazelnut went in search of its original homeland, it would end up in the Black Sea coast region of Turkey. It has also been widespread in China for thousands of years.
From Turkey, the hazelnut advanced to Greece, Italy and Central Europe over the course of thousands of years. In Central Europe it was widespread in the Stone Age and the dominant plant in the plant world. From the European countries, the hazelnut finally conquered the rest of the world - whether naturally or with the help of humans.
Where does the hazelnut come from today?
The hazelnuts that are offered in a wide variety of supermarkets today usually do not come from Germany. Germany is rather unsuitable as a cultivation area for the hazelnut. The reason: the climate is too cold.
The so-called Lambertshasel can usually be found in the trade. In most cases it comes from the Mediterranean region. There, the following countries are considered to be the strongest hazelnut exporters:
- Turkey
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- Greece
tips and tricks
Carry out comparative tastings of different hazelnut varieties from different countries around the world. With keen taste buds, you'll be able to tell the difference and make it easier to choose the hazelnut that tastes best to you.