Hazelnut

Corylus avellana (common hazel) is a deciduous, densely branched shrub of the Betulaceae family, native to Europe and western Asia. Botanically, it is characterized by very early flowering (before leafing); it is monoecious and wind-pollinated. The male flowers form conspicuous drooping catkins, while the female flowers are inconspicuously hidden in buds with protruding red stigmas. The fruit is a single-seeded nut with a hard woody pericarp, partially hidden in a green leafy husk (cupule). Nutritionally, it is an energy-rich food with a high content of monounsaturated fatty acids (especially oleic acid), protein, and fiber. Hazelnuts are one of the best natural sources of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), manganese, copper, and folic acid (B9). Their phytochemical profile is defined by a high content of phytosterols (beta-sitosterol), which help lower cholesterol, and polyphenols (procyanidins, quercetin), concentrated mainly in the brown shell of the kernel, which provide strong antioxidant protection.