Hazelnut

Noisette

What it is

In Celtic legend, nine hazel trees dropped their nuts of wisdom into a sacred pool, and the salmon who ate them knew everything. Later, Napoleon’s blockade cut Turin off from cocoa — chocolatiers stretched what little they had with local hazelnuts, and gianduja was born of scarcity.

In the kitchen

Roast, then rub in a tea towel: the papery skins fall away and the bitterness goes with them.

Goes with

Dark chocolate Coffee Pear Butter Chanterelle

Same species

Cervione hazelnut Fresh green hazelnut Gianduja Hazelnut flour Hazelnut oil Piedmont hazelnut

Also used with

Nantucket bay scallop Bee pollen Beefsteak fungus Blond chocolate Blue foot mushroom Burgundy truffle

In season alongside

Pecan Tombul hazelnut Japanese tilefish (amadai) Blue corn Borlotti bean Brussels sprout

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