Hazelnuts are back in season! You’ve known about hazelnuts perhaps your whole life. Maybe you’ve had them in certain dishes or enjoyed them in chocolates. Or perhaps, maybe you know them from Nutella, a favorite hazelnut spread.
Have you ever wondered where hazelnuts come from? And have you ever heard a cobnut? What about filbert nuts? If you love hazelnuts, cobnuts and filbert nuts are two terms that you need to know! And you’re in luck, because this article uncovers the similarities and differences between a filbert nut, a cobnut, and a hazelnut.
The filbert nut, cobnut, and hazelnut are all part of the Corylus genus, or in other words, the hazel plant. These are deciduous trees and shrubs that are native to temperate, northern hemisphere climates. The nuts from all hazel plants are edible!
The most common of these nuts is called a hazelnut, or a filbert nut. So, a filbert nut is the same thing as a hazelnut. The word “filbert” started commonly being used for both hazel plants and hazelnuts in Europe hundreds of years ago. This name probably came from St Philibert. The feast of St Philibert was held in late August, which is when the hazelnuts were starting to ripen. For them, it probably seemed obvious to name the nuts after this feast.
So, we’ve learned about filbert nuts. But what is a cobnut? Simply put, a cobnut is just a fresh hazelnut. They are sold when they’re fresh and green or gold. They’re usually eaten raw so that you can savor the sweet and juicy flavor.
Let’s recap what we’ve talked about! First of all, hazelnuts, filbert nuts, and cobnuts are all part of the same family. They all come from the hazel plant. Filbert nut is a nickname given to the hazelnut way back in history, so the two terms can be used interchangeably. And finally, a cobnut is a sweet, juicy hazelnut that’s eaten right after it’s harvested.
Hazelnuts (or filbert nuts) and cobnuts are usually ready to harvest in September and October. Here at Handy Farms, we are enjoying harvesting these delicious nuts now. So, whether you’ve been a hazelnut enthusiast your whole life, or are looking for something new to try, we hope you can enjoy them just as much as we do!
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