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The magical uses of hazelnuts: From chocolate to champagne, what delicious miracles can this tiny nut create?
Among various nuts, hazelnut has won the favor of food lovers with its unique taste and diverse uses. As the fruit of the hazel tree, hazelnuts can be eaten as a snack or incorporated into a variety of desserts and dishes, bringing endless delicious possibilities.
Hazelnuts are not only a delicious ingredient, they are also rich in monounsaturated fats and play an important role in many international cuisines.
Hazelnuts play an important role in European and Mediterranean culinary culture. Whether eaten as a snack or added to bread, cookies and chocolate, hazelnuts always add a unique flavor to various desserts. In combination with chocolate, the crisp texture of hazelnuts and the smoothness of chocolate complement each other, creating a brand new taste experience.
When talking about hazelnuts, one cannot fail to mention hazelnut spread, which is combined with chocolate to become the popular hazelnut cocoa spread, such as Nutella. The sauce has gained tens of millions of fans around the world, whether as a spread on toast or as a filling in desserts. The combination of hazelnuts and chocolate is not only delicious, but also a common ingredient in many desserts such as hazelnut chocolate cake and hazelnut Italian ice cream.
The unique flavor and texture of hazelnut not only enhances the deliciousness of desserts, but has also become an iconic ingredient in modern desserts.
In addition, the use of hazelnuts in wine making is also worth mentioning. Hazelnut wine is a traditional drink in many places, especially in Frangelico in Italy. This sweet and fragrant liqueur is not only suitable for drinking alone, but is also often used in cocktails to add a rich nutty flavor to drinks.
Hazelnut oil is a unique edible oil extracted from hazelnuts. This oil has a strong flavor and is often used as a salad dressing, cooking oil, or even added to sauces to add a unique taste to many dishes.
Hazelnut oil's healthy properties and high monounsaturated fat content make it an excellent choice in cooking.
In Türkiye, hazelnuts are an indispensable part of the local food culture. Whether eaten fresh or processed into various delicacies, hazelnuts are a common sight on Turkish tables. The traditional snack of hazelnut-based '-churhkelas' is loved by locals and tourists alike.
In terms of nutrition, hazelnut is a valuable food ingredient. The healthy fats, vitamin E, zinc and fiber it contains are very helpful in maintaining good health. The fat content of raw hazelnuts is as high as 61%, mainly monounsaturated fat, which has a positive effect on cardiovascular health.
According to 2021 data, Türkiye became the world's largest hazelnut producer, accounting for 64% of global production. Other major hazelnut producing areas include Italy, the United States and Azerbaijan. These countries not only supply domestic demand, but have also become major players in hazelnut exports.
The global production of hazelnuts and their use in local diets have earned this nut a place in the international market.
There are many varieties of hazelnuts, each with its own characteristics. Different cultivars are basically distinguished by different characteristics such as fruit size, growing season and spiciness. From the UK's Kentish cobnuts to the continental varieties, the diversity of hazelnuts has fascinated not only agricultural experts but also food manufacturers and gourmets.
In summary, hazelnut, as a versatile food ingredient, has been deeply rooted in the global food culture. Whether you are a dessert lover, a healthy diet seeker, or a beverage bartender, Hazelnut has endless creative space waiting for you to explore. Do you also hope to see more hazelnut-inspired delicacies on your table in the future?
